Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to seven points with a thrilling 4-2 victory against Brighton after title rivals Man City dropped points earlier in the day. A shock 1-1 draw at Etihad Stadium against Everton presented the Gunners with the opportunity to move seven points clear of Pep Guardiola's side, one they duly took.
Bukayo Saka put Arsenal in front after less than two minutes before Martin Odegaard doubled their lead midway through the first half. In the second half, Eddie Nketiah got in on the act before Kaoru Mitoma reduced the deficit for the Seagulls.
Gabriel Martinelli restored Arsenal's three-goal buffer but a tense finish was set up when Evan Ferguson scored Brighton's second. The Gunners were able to hold out for the remaining 13 minutes, despite Mitoma finding the back of the net again, but ultimately coming from an offside position.
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Perhaps a few seasons ago, Mikel Arteta would have watched on helplessly as his Arsenal side were pegged back after taking the lead, but this Arsenal side are different to the teams of recent years and their grip on the title has only got stronger as we head into 2023. Here is how the national media reacted to Arsenal's win on the south coast.
Evening Standard
Arsenal go into 2023 seven points clear at the top of the Premier League after an entertaining 4-2 win over Brighton. The opportunity was there for Mikel Arteta's side to extend their advantage after Manchester City were held by Everton earlier in the day, and the Gunners did just that against a Seagulls side that have regularly caused them problems in the past.
That always looked on track once Bukayo Saka gave them the lead after 65 seconds, before Martin Odegaard continued his sensational form to score before the break. Eddie Nketiah made it three shortly after half-time to seemingly put the Gunners in cruise control. Kaoru Mitoma gave Brighton brief hope of a comeback though, before Evan Ferguson then did the same after Gabriel Martinelli had restored the three-goal advantage. Arsenal saw out the rest of the match, despite some unexpectedly nervy moments.
The Guardian
With a seven-point gap on Manchester City, 2023 promises so much for Arsenal. If the World Cup loomed over early season and brought with it considerable collateral damage, Mikel Arteta’s team are yet to lose their step.
There are vulnerabilities. Brighton scored two late second-half goals, another ruled out by VAR, to stop this becoming a new year’s parade. There will be further nerves to face down, starting with Newcastle on Tuesday and Arteta may soon have to locate some means to hide his personal fears.
At times, he cut a tortured figure but in Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Martinelli, each of them goalscorers, Ødegaard delivering a brilliantly creative performance, there is so much more to them than Gabriel Jesus. “A big win, I’m really happy, they made it tough for us,” said Arteta. “Every game is a huge test.”
Daily Mail
It is that time for hopeful proclamations about what is to come in the next 12 months. And if anyone of an Arsenal persuasion wanted to mark the start of 2023 with one about this finally being their year to win the Premier League again they could make a decent case.
While their rivals continue to show they are more susceptible to dropping points Arsenal simply keep on finding a way to win.
Week-by-week, game-by-game, they are proving their title credentials. For now, most connected with Arsenal are refusing to get carried away. That’s what almost two decades without a title, a period featuring its fair share of false dawns, can do.
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