Overview
- Arsenal returned to the top with a narrow home victory in which Martin Ødegaard scored and a Declan Rice corner forced an own goal before Brighton halved the deficit.
- Fresh setbacks saw Jurrien Timber injured in training and Riccardo Calafiori withdrawn in the warm-up, with Declan Rice starting at right-back and academy full-back Myles Lewis‑Skelly drafted in.
- Gabriel Magalhães made his first appearance since early November as a second‑half substitute to bolster a patched‑up back line.
- Raya’s fingertip stop from Yankuba Minteh preserved the result on his 150th Premier League appearance, with pundits and Brighton’s manager hailing the save; coverage also cited his division‑leading 58 clean sheets.
- Mikel Arteta and Ian Wright highlighted a recurring finishing issue after another one‑goal win, as Arsenal now turn to Tuesday’s test against Aston Villa, who will be without suspended Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara.