Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League table with a hard-earned 2-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion in Matchday 18, but the night was not entirely perfect for the hosts, as goalkeeper David Raya was denied a clean sheet on a landmark appearance.

The win was secured thanks to a well-worked opener from Martin Ødegaard and a slice of fortune after the break, as an own goal from Morgan Rutter proved decisive at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal started with intensity and purpose, quickly establishing control. Early efforts from Viktor Gyökeres and Bukayo Saka tested Bart Verbruggen, signalling the pressure that was to come. It paid off in the 14th minute when Saka found space down the right and cut the ball back perfectly for Ødegaard, who struck powerfully and precisely from the edge of the box into the bottom corner. It was the Norwegian’s first league goal of the season — a moment of real quality.

The pattern continued after the interval. From a Declan Rice corner, the ball deflected off Rutter and into the net, doubling Arsenal’s advantage and seemingly putting the game firmly under control.

Brighton, however, refused to fold. On 64 minutes, Yasin Ayari rattled the post with a fierce effort, and Diego Gomez reacted quickest to smash the rebound into the top corner, setting up a tense finale and denying Raya a clean sheet on his milestone appearance.

The visitors pushed hard for an equaliser late on, and the defining moment came in stoppage time. Yankuba Minteh came agonisingly close, but David Raya produced a superb fingertip save to preserve the victory — redemption of sorts for the Spanish goalkeeper.

2025-26, England - Premier League

Arsenal - Brighton 2:1 (1:0)
Goals: Odegaard, 14 (1:0); Rutter, 52 (own goal) (2:0); Gomez D., 64 (2:1)

Arsenal: Raya; Saliba; Hincapie; Calafiori; Zubimendi; Saka B.; Odegaard; Merino; Rice; Gyökeres (Gabriel Jesus, 71); Trossard (Martinelli, 82)
Substitution: Gabriel M. (from 71); Gabriel Jesus (from 71); Martinelli (from 82)
Bench: Arrizabalaga; Lewis-Skelly; Salmon; Nørgaard; Eze; Madueke; Nwaneri
Yellow Cards: Lewis-Skelly 69; Hincapie 90

Brighton: Verbruggen; Dunk; van Hecke; De Cuyper (Wieffer, 46); Coppola (Watson, 87); Hinshelwood (Welbeck, 75); Gomez D. (Kostoulas, 87); Ayari; Gruda (Minteh, 46); Kadioglu; Rutter
Substitution: Wieffer (from 46); Minteh (from 46); Welbeck (from 75); Watson (from 87); Kostoulas (from 87)
Bench: Steele; Boscagli; Veltman; Milner
Yellow Cards: Verbruggen 45; Dunk 50; Coppola 56