Arsenal v. Brighton _ PREMIER LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS _ 12_17_2023 _ NBC Sports

Yeah, really, really strong across the back. Mikel Arteta names an unchanged team. Fifteen goals conceded. That's the fewest in the Premier League. Really strong there as a back four. Now you look at this midfield three. Havertz, Rice, Odegaard. Odegaard, the captain, turns 25 today. Declan Rice, don't be fooled. He's a deep line midfielder. He will protect this back four. But Mikel Arteta has given him a license to roam forward and he's paid him back because he's scored some really important goals for this Arsenal team. Up front, Saka, 11 goal involvements. He is the star man in this team no matter what. Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, just two goals between them in the last eight games. If they have any chance of winning the title, Mikel Arteta is going to need them to start firing on all cylinders. Let's take a look at Brighton. Exciting team. Scored in 32 straight games. Conceded in 20 straight games. That's the longest respective runs in each of those categories. Now listen, when you look at this back four, the only change is Veltman. Veltman comes in at the right back position, pushes Pascal Gross into the midfield. Incredibly versatile. Eight goal involvements this season, even from those positions. Real good balance up front. Matoma, three goals. Ferguson, six. Idinga, four. Lallana will just operate in these little pockets. Sometimes Gross will get forward. Billy Gilmore will balance the side out. Oh, by the way, they've won three straight away games at the Emirates. They won't be afraid to go there today. Strong bench, Rebecca. João Pedro, Buenanote, and Welbeck, who's missed the last 11 games, is back from injury. Two of the most exciting teams in the Premier League currently. They go head-to-head at the Emirates. With Arsenal mindful that only two teams won here last season, champions Manchester City and today's opponents Brighton, who did it twice, both in the Premier League and the EFL Cup. You can see both teams want to press high, and they've got to be careful they don't get hit on the counter. Saka, found by Odegaard. Saka to the byline, and helped away by Van Acker. Odegaard. Just got a metre on Milner. Saka, Weiss, getting away from Lallana. Saka! Duncan made the block. Off-loads it to Saka, and there's just enough Brighton bodies in there to stop the shot. White. Odegaard. The Brooklyn fully stretched. Odegaard. Gabriel Jesus. Straight out for Brooklyn. Jesus. Deflected behind for a corner. Weiss. Zinchenko. Dunc. Gabriel finding the harms of Vrije. Martinelli taking on Hinshelwood, the substitute. Confidently chested back to his goalkeeper by Louis Dunc. Odegaard. It's a beautiful goal for Saka. Odegaard. And put over the top of the crossbar by Martinelli. Fantastic pass from Odegaard. That was risky again from Brighton. Odegaard. Helped out once more by Jan-Paul Van Acker. Zinchenko. Brilliant run by Martinelli. It's Havertz. Brilliant block by Van Acker. Martinelli to deliver. Helped over the top of the crossbar by Weiss. The player most likely to. Still with Saka. He's again for Brooklyn. Odegaard again looking to find the opening. Gabriel Jesus. Foot behind for a corner. Brighton are sure it should be a goal kick. Odingaard. He's got to the byline. Spilled almost by Raya. That's not. Another chance, another miss. Brighton's recruitment in the first half and how they were able to pick up Evan Ferguson. But it's been gifted to Martinelli. Odegaard. Now Saka. Thwarted by Webern. Goalkeeper again, here's Saka. Odegaard. Who misses out to Van Acker. Saka with a corner kick. Gabriel Jesus. Another set play goal this season for Arsenal. For Brooklyn and Van Acker. Got in the muddle. And Gabriel Jesus has taken full advantage. Clever little one twos. Passes from Odegaard. This is where it's important. These moments. Be in the right place at the right time. And that's exactly where Gabriel Jesus is. Yes, it's a miscommunication. Van Acker takes the ball. Off of the line. Off the goalkeeper. Isn't convincing in that moment. But all good strikers pick up that back post area. Emile Smith-Rowe is soon to be introduced by Arsenal. Odegaard. That's a strong goal. Arsenal get their second. That should seal the deal. So many chances. So many chances wasted. And now finally. Arsenal get some breathing space. With just three minutes remaining. Right off their shoulders. Lovely play from Trossard. They work it so well. Bright and really tiring. This little pass here from Mkhitaryan. Then it's all about the finish. And I'm not too sure if he intends that. Kai Havertz. It looked like he tried to just dink the goalkeeper here. But he just manages to slide it underneath. The body of the Brugge. And as he comes flying out. And doesn't he just enjoy that? Mikel Arteta. You just see that weight lifting off his shoulders as well. Trossard to try and curve that ball at Rice again. Terrific work by Rice. Trossard. The goalkeeper. Smith-Rowe with the shot. Dunk. Tim Robinson, the referee, has had a look at his watch. Gross offside. And that should be it. Simple as that. For Mikel Arteta. Mikel Arteta can now celebrate. And enjoy the moment that Arsenal return to the top of the Premier League. Albeit it might only be for a couple of hours. Brighton and Albion draw a blanket for once this season. But they had their chances. Gabriel Jesus put Arsenal in front. Seven minutes into the second half. Kai Havertz got their second late on. But that just five minutes after Pascal Gross squandered a brilliant opportunity to draw Brighton level. Arsenal forced to work hard for this. But they produced a win after their defeat at Aston Villa last week. And the return to the top of the Premier League at the Emirates. Where it is finished. Arsenal 2. Brighton and Albion 0. We will see you there.