Arsenal recently secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion at the Emirates Stadium, extending their impressive unbeaten streak across all competitions to five games. This win allowed Mikel Arteta’s squad to briefly reclaim the top spot in the Premier League table, maintaining a two-point lead over title rivals Manchester City.
The goals came from an early strike by captain Martin Ødegaard, followed by a second-half own goal conceded by Gerginio Rutter. The match`s final half-hour proved tense after Diego Gomez managed to pull one back for the visitors. Ødegaard`s opening goal was notable—a powerful shot from outside the penalty area that gave Arsenal the early advantage.
Overall, the North London club asserted massive dominance, recording 24 shots compared to Brighton’s eight. Impressively, they prevented Brighton from registering a single shot on target throughout the entire first half. This professional performance highlighted the contributions of several key players, including Bukayo Saka, who continues to be an essential force in the final third.
Bukayo Saka, an academy graduate, has remained central to Arsenal`s success this season, bringing his total goal contributions (goals and assists) for the campaign up to 12. Against the Seagulls, he notably provided the assist for Ødegaard’s opener. Although a relatively simple pass, the move demonstrated the strong relationship between the two key players, as Saka drove toward the box before checking back to find his captain.
Saka’s statistics from the game underscore his creative quality. He tallied four key passes and created one big chance. Beyond attack, the winger was robust in his defensive duties, winning five duels and making five recoveries. Football London journalist Tom Canton recognized his solid contribution, awarding him a post-match rating of 7/10. However, despite Saka’s strong outing, he may not have been the absolute best performer on the pitch.
Mikel Arteta was forced to shuffle his lineup, leading Declan Rice to operate in a highly unconventional role at right-back. Despite stepping into this new area of the pitch, the English international, wearing the number 41 shirt, showed no dip in his exceptional performance standards.
Canton highly praised Rice, awarding him an outstanding 8/10 rating, noting that he “played the role excellently” and delivered superb work across all phases of play. The statistics vividly illustrate just how proficient the 26-year-old was in this new position. He recorded 76 touches of the ball, completed 25 passes in the Brighton half, and registered four recoveries.
| Declan Rice Key Stats vs. Brighton | |
|---|---|
| Stat | Number |
| Touches | 76 |
| Pass accuracy | 89% |
| Successful Passes in Opposition Half | 25/29 |
| Recoveries | 4 |
| Interceptions | 3 |
| Duels Won | 2 |
| Chances Created | 1 |
There is a strong argument that Rice, who commands a weekly wage of £240,000 at the Emirates, has surpassed Saka to become Arsenal`s single most important player this season. While Saka remains vital, Rice has achieved new levels of influence since arriving.
Recently described by some as “the best midfielder in the world,” the former West Ham United captain demonstrated incredible versatility. His typical marauding forward runs and relentless defensive work rate translated seamlessly to the right-back role against Brighton. The fact that Arteta can deploy Rice in multiple positions and still expect a performance rated 8/10 underlines how crucial he is to the current Gunners squad`s flexibility and success.
Rupert Fawcett
