Arsenal 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Coral’s post-match review of Arsenal 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday, 27 December 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Arsenal won 2-1 against Brighton & Hove Albion in a tight Premier League clash at the Emirates. The Gunners took an early lead when Martin Ødegaard slotted home in the 14th minute, assisted by Bukayo Saka, giving them a boost after their recent run of wins including a 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. Brighton struggled to respond in the first half, picking up a yellow card for Bart Verbruggen in stoppage time, as Arsenal looked comfortable heading into the break.

The second half saw Arsenal extend their lead in the 52nd minute through an own goal from Brighton’s Georginio Rutter, assisted by Declan Rice, but the Seagulls fought back with Diego Gómez pulling one back in the 64th. Arsenal made key substitutions, with Gabriel Magalhães replacing Myles Lewis-Skelly and Gabriel Jesus coming on for Viktor Gyökeres in the 71st minute, helping them hold firm despite yellow cards for Lewis-Skelly and Piero Hincapié. Brighton, coming off a mixed form with draws and losses like their 0-0 against Sunderland, pushed late but couldn’t find an equaliser, leaving Arsenal to celebrate another win in their strong recent streak.

Arsenal edged possession with 53% compared to Brighton’s 47%, showing they controlled more of the ball and created pressure through seven corners against Brighton’s two, which highlights the Gunners’ dominance in set-piece situations. Their 54 successful dribbles dwarfed Brighton’s 33, pointing to a more dynamic attack that kept the visitors on the back foot, while Arsenal’s single assist underlines their efficiency in turning chances into goals.

Discipline-wise, Arsenal picked up two yellow cards against Brighton’s three, with no reds on either side, suggesting a feisty but fair contest without major disruptions. The Gunners used three substitutions – like Gabriel Martinelli replacing Leandro Trossard in the 82nd minute – to manage the game, while Brighton made five, including double changes at half-time with Yankuba Minteh for Brajan Gruda and Mats Wieffer for Maxim De Cuyper, as they chased the result without any penalties or injury-time goals to swing it.

The game turned early when Martin Ødegaard fired Arsenal ahead in the 14th minute with a neat finish from Bukayo Saka’s assist, setting a positive tone for the hosts. Things got even better for Arsenal in the 52nd when Georginio Rutter’s own goal, from Declan Rice’s delivery, doubled their lead, though Brighton responded strongly with Diego Gómez’s strike in the 64th to make it tense.

Substitutions played a big role too, with Arsenal bringing on Gabriel Magalhães and Gabriel Jesus in the 71st minute to shore things up after Myles Lewis-Skelly’s yellow card, while Brighton’s half-time switches injected energy but couldn’t prevent yellows for Lewis Dunk and Diego Coppola. Late on, Piero Hincapié’s booking in the 90th added drama, but Arsenal held on for the points.

Arsenal lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Martin Ødegaard pulling the strings in midfield and linking well with Bukayo Saka on the right, creating key attacking partnerships that led to the opening goal. Declan Rice provided solid support in the middle, assisting the own goal, while changes like Gabriel Magalhães coming on strengthened the defence late in the game.

Brighton & Hove Albion set up in a 3-4-2-1 shape, relying on Lewis Dunk at the back for leadership despite his yellow card, with Diego Gómez stepping up to score their only goal from midfield. Substitutes like Yankuba Minteh and Mats Wieffer added pace after coming on at half-time, aiming to exploit the wings in their push for a comeback.

Coral’s Man of the Match goes to Martin Ødegaard, who shone for Arsenal with his goal in the 14th minute and five key passes that kept the attack flowing, even if he didn’t rack up assists or big chances created. His creativity and composure in midfield were crucial in steering the Gunners to victory, making him the standout performer in a hard-fought win.

Recent Premier League matches:

• Win: 2-1 vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H)
• Win: 1-0 vs Everton (A)
• Win: 2-1 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)
• Loss: 1-2 vs Aston Villa (A)
• Win: 2-0 vs Brentford (H)

Recent Premier League matches:

• Loss: 1-2 vs Arsenal (A)
• Draw: 0-0 vs Sunderland (H)
• Loss: 0-2 vs Liverpool (A)
• Draw: 1-1 vs West Ham United (H)
• Loss: 3-4 vs Aston Villa (H)

Arsenal have just beaten Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1, keeping their strong run going with four wins in their last five league games, sitting top of the table on 42 points. They’ll look to extend that lead when they face Aston Villa on 2025-12-30 at 20:15, a tough test against the third-placed side on 39 points, where a win could help them pull further clear at the summit after bouncing back from their earlier loss to Villa.

Brighton & Hove Albion have just lost 2-1 to Arsenal, adding to a patchy recent form with only draws and defeats in their last five, leaving them in 12th on 24 points. They need to regroup for their next match against West Ham United on 2025-12-30 at 19:30, facing an 18th-placed team on just 13 points, where picking up points could help them climb away from mid-table and build some momentum.

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