Goals: 33. Bukayo Saka (pen.), 62. Kai Havertz, 86. Leandro Trossard
Arsenal beat Brighton 3-0 in the 32nd round of the Premier League at their own stadium. At the seemingly impregnable fortress called the Amex Stadium, where the Seagulls fell for only the second time in the current league season, the Gunners struck for the first time in the 33rd minute thanks to a successful penalty kick by Bukaya Saka. After the change of sides, despite the logical bet on a stronger defense, the favorite scored two more times, which may appear as an important fact in the final calculation. At the top of the table, in which the Londoners once again jumped to the first place, the title question can be decided by the score.
The title-seeking Arsenal had eight competitive matches in April. He managed the first one against Luton despite significant rotation in the lineup. The next obstacle in the order was an away match with the erratic Brighton, who fell in front of their fans in only one league match in the season. He also did well in the matches with the Gunners, losing only two of the last six meetings between them.
Mikel Arteta’s men created several promising opportunities early in the match. First, after a precisely played free kick by Martin Ödegaard, Gabriel headed just wide. Saka and Gabriel Jesus were also close to the first goal. The first-named got rid of the defender in an exemplary manner and almost lifted the spectators from their seats with a curling shot at the back post.
A minute later, the Brazilian striker also tried his luck with a shot from the edge of the penalty area, but he broke his teeth on the great Bart Verbruggen. In the 33rd minute, Tariq Lamptey tripped Gabriel Jesus in the penalty area and Saka took advantage of the penalty without hesitation. At the end of the first half, David Raya made a great save against Julio Encisa’s dangerous projectile.
The Gunners began the second act in the same vein as the first. Gabriel Jesus pounced on Kai Havertz’s fluffy cross and headed the ball just short of Verbruggen’s goal. The Dutch keeper had to show his skill moments later when Ödegaard leaned into the ball.
The visiting team added a well-deserved second goal in the 62nd minute, when Havertz finished off a beautiful combination action into the open goal. Substitute Leandro Trossard wanted to follow him up, whose poisonous shot was saved by Verbruggen with his fingertips. The Belgian winger had a taste for himself in the 86th minute, when he beautifully lobbed Verbruggen after a separate escape.
Arsenal thus prepared their opponent for only the second home league defeat of the season. In the next round, they will welcome Aston Villa on April 14, Brighton will play Burnley a day earlier.
