Arsenal held off a Brighton fightback to return to the top of the Premier League table with a 2-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium.
2025/2026 Premier League
2-1
Match Report
Earlier on Saturday, Manchester City leapfrogged Mikel Arteta's side into top spot, but Arsenal responded in kind to restore their two-point lead in the title race.
The Gunners started brightly and took a deserved 14th-minute lead. Bukayo Saka was gifted the ball, and he teed up Martin Odegaard, who fizzed a powerful effort from long range into the bottom-right corner.
Arsenal could have doubled their lead before the break, with Bart Verbruggen getting down sharply to keep out Martin Zubimendi's flick before former Brighton forward Leandro Trossard blazed over.
An unfortunate Georginio Rutter was responsible for Arsenal's second goal as he rose high to defend a wicked Declan Rice corner, only to send it into his own net.
But out of nothing, Arsenal’s advantage was halved just after the hour mark, with Diego Gomez on hand to thunder in the rebound when Yasin Ayari's low effort cannoned off the post.
David Raya made an exceptional stretching save to deny Yankuba Minteh an equaliser shortly after, while Gabriel Martinelli fired over from a glorious late chance at the other end.
Cashing in three vital points pic.twitter.com/weJcBWfWbT
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 27, 2025
Data Debrief: Defensive reshuffle does not faze Arsenal
Already without a host of defensive players prior to kick-off, Arsenal then lost Riccardo Calafiori in the warm-up and played Rice as a makeshift right-back.
However, despite a slight wobble in the second half, they held on for a sixth consecutive Premier League home win – their longest run since April-December 2022 (a run of 10).
No team has benefited from more own goals than Arsenal (three) in the top-flight this season, while only Wolves (four) have conceded more than Brighton (three), who are winless in their last five games.
Arsenal still offered plenty in attack, accumulating 2.8 expected goals (xG) from their 24 shots, with Saka paving the way by having seven of those, as well as 16 touches in the opposition box.
Match Events
0' Match Event for Arsenal vs Brighton
0' Declan Rice fills in at right-back for Arsenal
0' Saka drives into box, tight-angle shot saved by Verbruggen
4' Gyokeres beats Dunk but fires weak shot, gathered by Verbruggen
14' Odegaard strikes from distance to give hosts a deserved lead! Arsenal 1-0 Brighton
28' Gabriel back from injury, warms up to applause
38' Gyokeres fails to control at back post, ball deflects off him out of play
44' Zubimendi backheel saved, Trossard offside follow-up missed
46' Yellow Card! Bart Verbruggen booked
52' OWN GOAL! Rutter heads Rice's delivery into his own net! Arsenal 2-0 Brighton
56' Yellow Card! Diego Coppola booked
58' Merino tangles with Van Hecke after going to ground
60' Gyokeres fires fierce shot from tight angle, ball strikes Verbruggen's chest
64' GOAL! Diego Gómez taps in rebound to pull one back! Arsenal 2-1 Brighton
71' Match Event for Arsenal vs Brighton
71' Highlight from Arsenal vs Brighton
Line-ups
Arsenal XI: Trossard, David Raya, Ødegaard, Merino, Rice, Viktor Gyökeres, Martín Zubimendi, Saliba, Saka, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly
Subs: Christian Nørgaard, Kepa, Jesus, Gabriel, Eberechi Eze, Martinelli, Madueke, Nwaneri, Marli Salmon
Brighton XI: Dunk, Ferdi Kadıoğlu, Georginio Rutter, Maxim De Cuyper, Jan Paul van Hecke, Bart Verbruggen, Yasin Ayari, Diego Gómez, Diego Coppola, Brajan Gruda, Jack Hinshelwood
Subs: Milner, Steele, Welbeck, Veltman, Olivier Boscagli, Mats Wieffer, Yankuba Minteh, Charalampos Kostoulas, Tom Watson