Arsenal 2-0 Brighton: Gunners go top thanks to Jesus and Havertz goals

Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz on target as Gunners secure dominant victory.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

12' CHANCE! Saka's shot saved

15' CLOSE! Odegaard's shot inches wide

23' CHANCE! Gabriel's header saved

32' MISS! Martinelli's shot over the bar

38' Yellow Card! Ben White booked

43' Yellow Card! Kaoru Mitoma booked

53' GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Brighton (Jesus)

74' CLOSE! Odegaard's shot denied

82' CLOSE! Gross' shot inches wide

87' GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Brighton (Havertz)

Match Report

Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League table as goals from Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz secured a dominant 2-0 win over Brighton at the Emirates Stadium.

Jesus headed the opener from a corner soon after half-time and Havertz added a breakaway second from Eddie Nketiah's pass in the closing stages.

Arsenal spurned a succession of other chances either side of the goals, registering 26 shots to Brighton's six, but Havertz's strike, shortly after Pascal Gross had missed a guilt-edged chance at the other end, finally made the result safe.

The win ensures they bounce back from last weekend's 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa while also capitalising on Manchester City's failure to beat Crystal Palace on Saturday. Brighton, meanwhile, slip a place to ninth.

What's next?

Arsenal head to Anfield next Saturday for a humdinger of a fixture vs Liverpool, kick off 5.30pm.

Brighton travel to Selhurst Park for a derby clash with Crystal Palace on Thursday 21 December, kick off 8pm.

Line-ups

Arsenal XI: Zinchenko, David Raya, Martin Ødegaard, Jesus, Rice, Gabriel, Havertz, Ben White, Martinelli, William Saliba, Saka

Subs: Cedric, Trossard, Nelson, Ramsdale, Smith Rowe, Nketiah, Jakub Kiwior, Reuell Walters, Myles Lewis-Skelly

Brighton XI: Milner, Lallana, Gross, Veltman, Dunk, Kaoru Mitoma, Gilmour, Jan Paul van Hecke, Evan Ferguson, Bart Verbruggen, Simon Adingra

Subs: Steele, Welbeck, Dahoud, Igor, Jakub Moder, João Pedro, Facundo Buonanotte, Carlos Baleba, Jack Hinshelwood