An impressive Arsenal moved top of the Premier League thanks to second-half goals from Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz as they became the first team since February to stop Brighton & Hove Albion scoring in a 2-0 victory. 

How the match unfolded

Arsenal, who were unchanged in the Premier League for the first time this season, started brightly, with Bukayo Saka taking every opportunity to run at the 37-year-old James Milner, who was facing the Gunners for the 40th time in his career. 

It was Saka who had Arsenal’s first shot, but it was saved by Bart Verbruggen, before Martin Odegaard’s left-footed strike curled the wrong side of a post.

Brighton were dealt a blow just before the half-hour, when defender Joel Veltman limped off with what appeared to be a knee injury. 

Odegaard and Saka then combined brilliantly, but the latter’s cutback was fired over by Gabriel Martinelli.

Martinelli then had a shot kept out by Verbruggen, before Jan Paul van Hecke blocked from Kai Havertz as Brighton were able to somehow repel Arsenal’s continued pressure at half-time. 

After the break, Brighton’s willingness to play out from defence would prove costly and resulted in a deserved lead for Arsenal on 53 minutes.

A poor pass from Verbruggen fell to Rice who passed to Saka, who then tried to find Odegaard but it was cleared for a corner by Van Hecke.

From that set-piece, Saka’s inswinging corner was inadvertently flicked on by Van Hecke for an unmarked Gabriel Jesus to head in his third league goal of the campaign at the far post.

It meant Brighton have not kept a clean sheet in their last 21 Premier League matches.

Soon Arsenal almost had a second as Ben White’s header from a corner was cleared off the line by Lewis Dunk.

Odegaard forced another good stop from Verbruggen, while Havertz headed over as Arsenal pushed for a second.

However, Brighton almost equalised against the run of play late on when a low cross from Kaoru Mitoma was met by the outstretched Pascal Gross, but he could only hit the side-netting from close range.

With three minutes remaining, Arsenal finally added a second. Substitute Eddie Nketiah made a driving run and put in Havertz who shot past Verbruggen.

It was a first home goal for the German and his fourth in seven matches in all competitions.

Verbruggen denied Emile Smith Rowe late on, but two goals were enough for Arsenal, who move on to 39 points.

The result brings Brighton’s 32-match scoring streak in the Premier League to an end, the first time they have failed to do so since February. 

They drop to ninth on 26 points.

Arsenal report | Brighton report

Match officials

Referee: Tim Robinson. Assistants: Eddie Smart, Nick Greenhalgh. Fourth official: Darren Bond. VAR: Paul Tierney. Assistant VAR: Neil Davies.