Striker Alexandre Lacazette scored 21 seconds after coming on as a second-half substitute to give Arsenal a narrow win at Brighton.
The Frenchman swept in Bukayo Saka’s ball for his third goal in three games to earn the Gunners their first back-to-back league wins since the start of the season.
However, their display lacked the fizz that saw them defeat Chelsea 3-1 on Saturday. They were particularly sluggish in the first half when they only managed one effort on goal.
The tempo and urgency was turned up a couple of notches after the break, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Gabriel Martinelli going close before Lacazette struck.
Brighton boss Graham Potter left forwards Neal Maupay and Danny Welbeck on the bench – two of six changes made to the starting XI. His side once again looked comfortable and composed on the ball but it was the same old story in attack.
The closest the home side came to scoring was when Alireza Jahanbakhsh forced a sharp save from Bernd Leno at his near post.
Arsenal climb up to 13th and now have 20 points, while Brighton remain two points above the drop zone in 17th.
Second-half revival benefits Arsenal
Did Kieran Tierney give Arsenal’s half-time team-talk?
The Scotland full-back was adamant that the emphatic victory over the Blues was partly due to the side starting on the front foot, so it came as a slight surprise that the Gunners retreated into their shells during the first half against Brighton.
Aubameyang replaced Lacazette in the starting XI, but he was left chasing scraps as his team-mates failed to provide him with adequate service. Thankfully for the club’s fans, it was a match of two halves – their team looked rejuvenated after the break.
Aubameyang went close soon after the restart when he attempted to turn home Saka’s cross but was thwarted by the knee of Robert Sanchez. His side then broke through.
Saka, exceptional on the flanks, this time set up Lacazette, who barely had time to get his studs dirty as he fired his shot past the Seagulls keeper.
The display was in stark contrast with that shown against Chelsea, but the result is the same and will give Arsenal and their fans heart as they head into 2021.
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Brighton
- 26Sánchez
- 34Veltman
- 4Webster
- 5DunkBooked at 59mins
- 33Burn
- 24PröpperSubstituted forMarchat 68′minutes
- 8Bissouma
- 13Groß
- 30Bernardo
- 16JahanbakhshBooked at 65minsSubstituted forTrossardat 75′minutes
- 10Mac AllisterSubstituted forMaupayat 67′minutes
Substitutes
- 3White
- 7Connolly
- 9Maupay
- 11Trossard
- 18Welbeck
- 20March
- 23Steele
- 29Zeqiri
- 49Molumby
Arsenal
- 1Leno
- 2BellerÃn
- 16Holding
- 22MarÃ
- 3Tierney
- 25Elneny
- 34Xhaka
- 7SakaSubstituted forCeballosat 81′minutes
- 32Smith RoweSubstituted forMaitland-Nilesat 89′minutes
- 35MartinelliSubstituted forLacazetteat 66′minutes
- 14Aubameyang
Substitutes
- 8Ceballos
- 9Lacazette
- 13Rúnarsson
- 15Maitland-Niles
- 17Cédric Soares
- 19Pépé
- 20Mustafi
- 28Willock
- 30Nketiah
Live Text
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Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 0, Arsenal 1.
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Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 0, Arsenal 1.
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Granit Xhaka (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Pascal Groß (Brighton and Hove Albion).
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Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
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Foul by Dani Ceballos (Arsenal).
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Adam Webster (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Yves Bissouma (Brighton and Hove Albion).
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Substitution, Arsenal. Ainsley Maitland-Niles replaces Emile Smith Rowe.
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Attempt blocked. Pascal Groß (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Granit Xhaka (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Solly March (Brighton and Hove Albion).
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Substitution, Arsenal. Dani Ceballos replaces Bukayo Saka because of an injury.
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Foul by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal).
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Joël Veltman (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Leandro Trossard replaces Alireza Jahanbakhsh.
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Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Granit Xhaka.
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Attempt blocked. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kieran Tierney.
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Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Solly March replaces Davy Pröpper.
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