Arsenal 2-0 Brighton: Player ratings as Gunners ease past sluggish Seagulls

Arsenal strolled to a 2-0 win against Brighton at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon thanks to goals from Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.

Arsenal were unable to break the deadlock in the first half despite their dominance, but Jesus swiftly gave the Gunners the lead just after the break. The hosts continued to control the game and eventually wrapped up the victory with Havertz's late effort.

The result leaves the Gunners in a strong position in the title race, moving them above Liverpool prior to the Reds' clash with Manchester United.

With Manchester City dropping points against Crystal Palace on Saturday, Arsenal knew a victory would send them five points clear of the champions. The Gunners started the game on top as efforts from Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard went close for the hosts in the first 15 minutes, but Brighton had shown their quality in possession too.

Arsenal continued to probe as the half wore on but failed to stretch Bart Verbruggen in the Brighton goal. The hosts' best opening came when Odegaard's exquisite outside of the foot pass sent Saka through on goal just after the 30-minute mark, Gabriel Martinelli failing to keep his shot down from the Englishman's pullback.

Martinelli also saw an effort rebuffed by Verbruggen from a tight angle following a lovely Arsenal move, but, despite plenty of possession and some promising openings, Mikel Arteta's men couldn't find a breakthrough before the half-time whistle.

Having failed to register a single shot in the first half, Roberto De Zerbi needed improvements from his Brighton team after the break, but Arsenal continued to command proceedings. In fact, it took the Gunners just eight minutes to take the lead, Jan Paul van Hecke flicking Saka's corner to the far post