Arsenal edged Brighton 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium to climb back to the Premier League summit. Manchester City had briefly moved ahead earlier on 27 December 2025, but this result restored Arsenal’s two-point cushion. The match grew tense late on, yet Mikel Arteta’s team protected the lead and strengthened hopes of a sustained title challenge.
The victory also extended Arsenal’s fine home form. Arsenal recorded a sixth straight Premier League win at the Emirates Stadium, their best sequence since a 10-game stretch between April and December 2022. Brighton’s poor run continued, as Roberto De Zerbi’s side stayed winless in five league fixtures and remained vulnerable from set plays and defensive errors.
Arsenal had to reorganise before kick-off,
with defensive absentees increasing when Riccardo Calafiori withdrew during the warm-up. Declan Rice shifted into a temporary right-back role, yet Arsenal still started with control. The breakthrough arrived in the 14th minute when Bukayo Saka seized on a loose pass and found Martin Odegaard, who drove a fierce low shot into the bottom-right corner from distance.
The hosts pushed for a second before half-time and created a steady flow of chances. Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen reacted smartly to stop Martin Zubimendi’s clever flick at close range. Leandro Trossard, facing former team-mates, then lifted a presentable opportunity over the bar. Arsenal produced 24 shots overall and generated 2.8 expected goals, highlighting constant attacking pressure on Brighton’s defence.
Saka remained heavily involved across both halves and led Arsenal’s threat. The winger attempted seven of Arsenal’s efforts and recorded 16 touches inside the Brighton penalty area, often targeting the full-backs. That pressure told shortly after the interval, when a dangerous Rice corner forced Georginio Rutter into an own goal as the Brighton player misjudged a defensive header.
Brighton replied from almost nothing around the hour mark to set up a nervous finish. Yasin Ayari struck a low shot that hit the post, and Diego Gomez reacted quickest to hammer the rebound past David Raya. Brighton nearly levelled when Yankuba Minteh closed in, but Raya stretched to make an outstanding save, preserving Arsenal’s advantage at a critical moment.
Cashing in three vital points pic.twitter.com/weJcBWfWbTArsenal (@Arsenal) December 27, 2025
Arsenal still had opportunities to finish the contest late on. Substitute Gabriel Martinelli steered a clear opening over the bar after a swift counter-attack. Brighton pushed for an equaliser but could not create another major chance. No Premier League team has gained more own goals this season than Arsenal’s three, while only Wolves on four have conceded more own goals than Brighton’s three.
The result kept Arsenal ahead of Manchester City in a tight Premier League title race and underlined resilience despite a makeshift back line. Rice’s adaptability, Odegaard’s precision and Raya’s key save all contributed to three important points, while Brighton left north London frustrated, with defensive lapses again preventing a positive result.
| Team | Score | Shots | Expected goals (xG) | Own goals for | Own goals against | Current streak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 2 | 24 | 2.8 | 3 | 0 | 6 home league wins |
| Brighton | 1 | – | – | 0 | 3 | 5 league games without a win |
