Gabriel Jesus record extended as Arsenal beat Brighton to top Premier League
Second-half goals from Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz were enough to give Arsenal a 2-0 win over Brighton on Sunday afternoon.
Some smart movement allowed Jesus space to head home a corner at the far post in the 53rd minute following a first half of frustration and missed chances from the Gunners. The match was then put beyond doubt in the final minutes as Kai Havertz finished a sweeping back-to-front Arsenal move, with the German netting for the fourth time in seven games across all competitions since returning from the international break.
Despite the hard-fought nature of the result, Sunday’s win was enough to send Arsenal back to the top of the Premier League, at least temporarily pending the result of Liverpool’s clash with Manchester United later in the afternoon.
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Though Brighton managed just two touches in the opposition box and failed to register a shot during the first half, they made it difficult for Arsenal to find their rhythm, throwing their bodies on the line to keep Mikel Arteta’s men at bay. Ultimately, Arsenal’s best chances came from Brighton’s mistakes as the Seagulls continued trying to play out from the back, despite some relentless pressing from the hosts.
Nevertheless, the first 45 went by without a goal even though Arsenal attempted a whopping 15 shots, this just the fourth time in the last eight seasons that the Gunners have attempted 15+ shots in a first half of Premier League football without scoring a goal.
HT: Arsenal 0-0 Brighton
Arsenal have had 15+ shots in the first half of a Premier League game without scoring for just the fourth time in the last eight seasons. 😮#ARSBHA pic.twitter.com/HymNogPXQM
— Play Squawka Selector for Free (@Squawka_Live) December 17, 2023
If there was any frustration heading into the tunnel for the break, Arteta did a great job of clearing it away at half-time, with Arsenal taking the lead just eight minutes after re-emerging from the changing rooms.
For Jesus, the smartly dispatched header was just his third Premier League goal of the season, but his second in his last three appearances. Perhaps more impressively, it’s the 59th game in which he’s hit the net in this competition for Man City and Arsenal combined, with the Brazilian never coming out on the losing side when he’s done so to date.
Gabriel Jesus has now scored in 59 Premier League games.
And he has NEVER lost one when he has found the back of the net. ⚽#ARSBHA pic.twitter.com/Sfdfuk3134
— Play Squawka Selector for Free (@Squawka_Live) December 17, 2023
The Brazil international has now also been directly involved in 14 goals in 15 Premier League starts for Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium (nine goals, five assists).
Brighton continued to see plenty of possession after the goal but simply couldn’t pick the lock, with Roberto De Zerbi surely disappointed at seeing his side create just a handful of serious chances; a 64th-minute header from Jack Hinshelwood that caused little distress for David Raya and a poor miss from Pascal Groß from close range after excellent work from Kaoru Mitoma in the 83rd minute.
In fact, it was Arsenal who looked more likely to double their lead, forcing several excellent saves from Bart Verbruggen through efforts from Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice, while Kai Havertz also headed over from close range in the 75th minute. Of course, the latter atoned for his error in the closing moments.
FT: Arsenal 2-0 Brighton #ARSBHA pic.twitter.com/mfR4SU2vwm
— Play Squawka Selector for Free (@Squawka_Live) December 17, 2023
Arsenal will now hope this puts an end to their recent struggles against Brighton, having won just one and lost three of their previous five meetings with the south coast side across all competitions before Sunday afternoon.
While Arsenal remain at the forefront of the title race — a point ahead of Aston Villa and five clear of Man City, while in direct competition with Liverpool — Brighton have slipped to ninth in the table, eight points off the top four, following a run of just one win in their last four Premier League matches.
Up next:
- Arsenal: Liverpool (a), West Ham (h), Fulham (a)
- Brighton: Crystal Palace (a), Tottenham (h), West Ham (a)
