Brighton vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction as Gunners extend lead at the top

Premier League leaders Arsenal moved seven points clear at the top going into the new year after a glorious Gabriel Martinelli goal capped a thrilling 4-2 victory at Brighton.

Goals from Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Eddie Nketiah set the Gunners on course for a fifth consecutive top-flight success to cement their status as serious title contenders.

Kaoru Mitoma reduced Albion’s deficit 25 minutes from time before Martinelli, aided by a wonderful Odegaard assist, raced half the length of the pitch to stylishly restore the three-goal advantage.

Martin Odegaard was Arsenal’s man of the match and spoke to Sky Sports about the victory over Brighton. He said: “To be honest, we focus on ourselves. We don’t care about the other teams. Three points was everyting today and we did it.

“Maybe we need to control the game a bit bettter, we let them in a couple of times, but they are a good team, good on the ball. I think it was a great goal! I am happy to help the team with goals and assists and I am very happy to do that again.

“I saw there was a lot of space in behind and our wingers are so quick. It is not easy to stop Gabriel Martinelli in that position.”

Bukayo Saka opened the scoring for Arsenal tonight and spoke to Sky Sports following the game. He was asked what it feels like to be seven points clear at the top of the table and the 21-year-old said:

“[It] sounds amazing. Of course at the start of the season if you asked us if we wanted this we would bite your hand off. We are really happy.

“There was big emphasis. We know how hard it is to come here and weather as well it wasn’t easy. That goal nice and early set us up. I couldnt believe it felll for me. I just had to try and show some composure.

“It is a great opportunity we have - a great place we have put ourselves in. We are not focussing on that now. We are focussing on the next game because we know how well Newcastle have been playing.”

Arsenal will head into the new year with a seven-point lead at the summit of the Premier League following a 4-2 win at Brighton.

Bukayo Saka opened the scoring after just 65 seconds before Martin Odegaard doubled Arsenal’s advantage with Eddie Nketiah adding a third shortly after the interval.

Kaoru Mitoma pulled one back for the Seagulls only for Gabriel Martinelli to net Arsenal’s fourth.

Teenager Evan Ferguson scored a second for the home side, but Mikel Arteta’s side saw out the the final Premier League fixture of 2022 to record another victory.

Pep Guardiola bemoaned the loss of two points but had no complaints about Everton’s approach after the Merseysiders snatched an unexpected 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium.

Demarai Gray cancelled out an Erling Haaland strike with a stunning equaliser in a feisty Premier League clash on Saturday.

Everton’s game plan frustrated City in a stop-start, foul-ridden and ill-tempered contest – although the largest contributor to the 11 minutes’ stoppage time played in the second half was the need for one of the assistant referees to have his headset repaired.

Arsenal are just the fifth side in English top-flight history to pick up as many as 43 points from the first 16 games in a season (3 pts for a win).

The others were:

Tottenham (1960/61),

Chelsea (2005/06),

Man City (2017/18),

Liverpool (2019/20).

The Gunners are seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

90+6 mins: There goes the full-time whistle. Arsenal close out a game which threatened to turn away from them towards the end of the second half.

Brighton played their part in a fantastic match to end 2022 but it’s Arsenal who claim the win. They move seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table and head into the new year in pole position to win the title.

90+3 mins: Kieran Tierney clears Arsenal’s lines and boots the ball as far down the pitch as possible. Arsenal are taking no chances now after the scare from Kaoru Mitoma.

Brighton continue to push but the game is probably just beyond them now.

90 mins: VAR looks at the incident and rules that Kaoru Mitoma came from an offside position to collect the ball and Brighton’s third is ruled out!

Six minutes of added time to play.