Arsenal Hold Their Nerve as Ødegaard and Raya Deliver Crucial Win Over Brighton
It was one of those afternoons at the Emirates where Arsenal looked completely in control, then suddenly found themselves having to dig deep. On paper, a 2–1 win over Brighton sounds routine, but the story of this match was far more layered, filled with makeshift solutions, tense moments, and just enough drama to remind everyone why the Premier League rarely lets you relax.
From the opening whistle, Arsenal were on the front foot. Brighton were pushed back, pinned in their own half, and barely allowed to breathe. The pressure eventually told when a Brighton mistake from a short goal-kick was punished calmly. Bukayo Saka slid the ball into Martin Ødegaard’s path, and the Arsenal captain drilled a low finish into the corner. It was his first goal of a season that has been disrupted by injury, and it felt like a release, both for him and for the crowd.
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What made the performance even more impressive was the context. Arsenal’s injury list continues to stretch the squad to its limits. Declan Rice, normally the heartbeat of midfield, was asked to fill in at right-back. Others have been shuffled into unfamiliar roles throughout the season, yet the structure somehow keeps holding. That adaptability has quietly become one of Arsenal’s biggest strengths.
The second goal arrived in familiar fashion early in the second half. A dangerous Rice corner caused panic in the Brighton box, and Georginio Rutter ended up flicking the ball into his own net. At 2–0, it felt like the game should have been over. Arsenal had dominated the shot count, Brighton had barely threatened, and the home side seemed comfortable.
But football rarely follows the script. Out of almost nothing, Brighton pulled a goal back when a shot hit the post and Diego Gómez reacted quickest to slam home the rebound. Suddenly, anxiety crept into the stadium. Brighton grew in belief, and Arsenal were forced into survival mode for a spell.
That was when David Raya stepped forward. A curling effort from Yankuba Minteh looked destined for the top corner, but Raya somehow got a hand to it, producing a stunning save that preserved the lead. It felt like a defining moment, the kind goalkeepers are remembered for in title races.
Mikel Arteta later admitted the game should never have been that tight, but he also embraced the suffering. Arsenal have made a habit of winning close matches this season, and once again, resilience was rewarded. As the final whistle blew, Arsenal climbed back to the top of the table, proving that even with injuries, pressure, and late scares, this team knows how to grind out results when it matters most.
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