Arsenal 1-0 Brighton: Saka strike and colossal Gabriel keep Gunners top
Bukayo Saka's early strike was enough as Arsenal beat Brighton 1-0 at the Amex Stadium to move seven points clear at the top of the Premier League after Manchester City's surprise 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest.
An early scare came when David Raya's poor clearance forced Gabriel to head off his own line, but Saka — making his 300th appearance — swept in a ninth-minute shot after a pass from Jurrien Timber; the effort deflected off Carlos Baleba and deceived Bart Verbruggen. Arsenal struggled to build on the opener and faced several nervy moments, yet managed to see the game out.
Defensive displays proved decisive: Gabriel was rated 9/10 and Piero Hincapie 8/10, while David Raya and Jurrien Timber both received 7/10. Saka was also given a 7/10, with Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli on 5/10, and Mikel Arteta rated 7/10 after changes that improved the side.
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