In a tense Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium on December 27, 2025, Arsenal reclaimed the top spot with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion. The Gunners, eager to bounce back from recent draws, started aggressively, dominating possession and launching wave after wave of attacks.
Mikel Arteta's side broke the deadlock in the first half when captain Martin Ødegaard unleashed a precise strike from the edge of the box, following a slick interplay with Bukayo Saka. Arsenal's first-half pressure yielded 15 shots, suffocating Brighton's attempts to build from the back, though Viktor Gyökeres tested David Raya early on. The second half began with Arsenal extending their lead in the 51st minute, as Declan Rice's inswinging
corner was inadvertently deflected into his own net by Brighton's Georginio Rutter.
However, Brighton, under Fabian HÜrzeler, showed resilience. Substitutes Yankuba Minteh and Mats Wieffer injected energy at halftime, replacing Brajan Gruda and Jan Paul van Hecke. The visitors pulled one back in the 63rd minute when Diego Gómez smashed home a rebound after Yasin Ayari's effort struck the post.
Arsenal held firm amid late pressure, with Raya, marking his 150th appearance, making a crucial fingertip save on Minteh's curling shot. Standout performers included Ødegaard, netting his first goal of the season, and Saka, whose creativity nearly added more. Gabriel MagalhÃes returned from injury to bolster the defense. Brighton rued missed chances but highlighted their fighting spirit.
Arsenal create Unique Record
Amid the victory, the North London club have created a unique record in the match. Mikel Arteta brought on three substitutions in the match, as Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli came on for them.
With that, Arsenal have become the first team in the history of the game to bring on three players with the same name. It sounds unique, to say the least, but all of the Gunners players were named Gabriel, who also belong to the same country, Brazil.
