It’s a zero for Arsenal: there’s a connotation to it. But if Arsenal’s chants away at Brighton were a throwback to the 90s, Mikel Arteta has now built a defense to match the days of Dixon, Bould, Adams and Winterburn. Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League as they kept five consecutive clean sheets for the first time since 1997.
You can see why when Gabriel Magalhaes threw himself to block Joao Pedro’s shot in stoppage time. Arsenal were 3-0 up and advancing but Gabriel celebrated as if the Gunners had won the match.
It is this defensive intensity that has fueled Arsenal’s title challenge. It was inevitable that Tariq Lamptey’s strike into the box saw Gabriel Jesus fall and Bukayo Saka take the lead from the penalty spot. Kai Havertz doubled Arsenal’s advantage after the break, reducing the suspense of an evening that had begun with Arsenal suddenly becoming wasteful in front of goal before Leandro Trossard raced away to score a delightful third on his return to the south coast. This was another big win for Arsenal on goal difference.
But if the attack has brought Arteta’s team back into the title race, it is the defense that has kept them there. The foundations of Arteta’s title-challenged teams are so solid that the partnership of William Saliba and Gabriel ensures they become the first away side to win at Brighton with relative ease since September. David Raya made his own brilliant contribution before half-time when he parried away Julio Enciso’s curling shot.
While Liverpool and Manchester City have to come from behind in this week’s title race, Arsenal continues to lead from the front. This was particularly evident away from home, where Arteta’s side have not fallen behind in the Premier League since the start of the year.
It is even more encouraging for Arsenal that they can go on to win their first title in 20 years. To beat Liverpool and City they will need to be close to perfect away from home; Transfers will also be made to Wolves, Tottenham and Manchester United. Yet they arguably got through the worst with aplomb. Arsenal managed to join Roberto De Zerbi’s squad for the second time this season after keeping a first clean sheet at the Etihad. They again underestimated a Brighton side who scored in 33 consecutive top-flight matches before arriving at the Emirates in December. Brighton have failed to score in seven of 14 games since then, with two of those coming against Arsenal.
This meant that the first goal of the game was crucial and was why Brighton were so aggrieved by the penalty decision in the 33rd minute. Both teams were playing on a knife edge: Arsenal missed four big opportunities in the first 15 minutes. Brighton also started well and skilful play put Arsenal open on more than one occasion, drawing Arteta’s side into the press before crossing midfield. It has created tension around Arsenal, who have not been away from home since the turn of the year, including last week’s trip to City.
The chances were not as clear cut as Arsenal’s but the threat was clear and there was a feeling the visitors would be punished after their early misses. At the heart of the action was Lamptey, who partnered Simon Adringra and targeted Oleksandr Zinchenko on Brighton’s right. This is where Brighton’s first glimpses came, with Enciso firing from the edge of the penalty area after a quick attack.
But it was in the other direction that Arsenal found the source of their breakthrough. As Havertz continued to lead the line, Jesus, now a full winger, gained possession of the ball before challenging Lamptey on the edge of the penalty area. The Brazilian dived into Lamptey, Lamptey cut some of the ball but Isa took more and slid his legs. Referee John Brooks pointed to the spot and Saka slotted past Bart Verbruggen to win five of five penalties this season.
Enciso reminded Raya of the magic he missed during his injury absence by forcing Raya into a superb diving save before half-time. It was an almost mirror image of Galeno’s last-minute winner for Porto in the Champions League last month, but this time Raya adjusted his position just in time to clear Enciso’s curling shot from 25 yards.
But before Raya, Gabriel and Saliba were once again gigantic; They read the game as Brighton threatened further counter-attacks and stood firm as Arsenal defended a series of set plays early in the second half. As soon as Arsenal stabilized and regained control, they finished the game by doubling their lead. Jorginho moved to block Enciso’s loose pass and continued to run to get to the line. In the middle was Havertz, his ninth of the season. A poacher’s finish was a fitting way to celebrate Havertz’s best goal-scoring season in England.
But it was Arsenal’s defensive record that created the platform for this journey to victory, which Brighton barely had the opportunity to do after falling behind. Instead, Arteta’s side threatened to run rampant. Trossard scored Arsenal’s third goal to take Liverpool’s nine-goal lead to 11 points ahead of City. This could be crucial at the end of the season, but Arsenal achieved this thanks to both ends of the pitch.