Arsenal 2-1 Brighton result - Special David Raya save denies equaliser after Martin Odegaard nets first goal of season

Goalkeeper David Raya had a key role to play as Arsenal moved back top of the Premier League following a 2-1 win against Brighton.

The Gunners almost saw a commanding two-goal lead evaporate after Diego Gomez pulled a goal back and then Yankuba Minteh was denied by the fingertips of Raya as Mikel Arteta’s side hung on.

Manchester City had moved above Arsenal at the top of the table following their win over Nottingham Forest in the lunchtime kick-off.

However, any nerves were eased when Bukayo Saka provided an assist for Martin Odegaard to rifle home his 14th-minute effort into the bottom corner.

The Gunners were in complete control during the first half and striker Viktor Gyokeres had several chances to double Arsenal’s lead.

However, the hosts were two goals ahead early in the second half when Declan Rice’s curling corner was flicked on at the front post and into his own net by Georginio Rutter.

Brighton failed to test the Arsenal goalkeeper until pulling a goal back when Yasin Ayari’s curling shot hit the post and Gomez gratefully netted the rebound on 64 minutes.

The Seagulls almost stunned the Emirates but substitute Minteh saw his top-corner-bound effort denied by the flying Raya.

Arsenal’s win leaves them two points above Manchester City ahead of a home game against Aston Villa on Tuesday evening.

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It’s Arsenal who almost have a third goal late on. A ball over the top finds Saka who was on the shoulder of Dunk. However, the Brighton defender comes in with a sliding challenge as the forward shoots.

It’s a hopeful claim by the Arsenal fans as Jesus is nudged Kadioglu as the ball goes out. There are big penalty appeals but the referee waves the claim away. VAR agrees with him.

Arsenal have five additional minutes to hang on and Hincapie tries to waste some of those and is booked.

Watson on for Coppola; Kostoulas on for Gomez

It’s Saka again with another lovely ball into the six-yard box. Martinelli gets there ahead of his marker before blazing over.

The substitute shows his fresh legs as he skips into space out wide and sends an inviting cross into the box. However, a blue shirt is on hand to clear.

Martinelli is coming on for Trossard as Arsenal are hanging on

Lovely passing football from Brighton to find space inside the box. Minteh unleashes his effort which was heading into the top corner before Raya gets his fingertips to the ball and sends it over.

Wieffer then heads over the resulting corner as Arsenal survive.

The former Arsenal forward is on to find an equaliser for Brighton. He replaces Hinshelwood 

The home fans are convinced that their side deserved a penalty. Jesus holds the ball up brilliantly for Merino who crosses into the six-yard box. The ball bounces off Dunk’s body and hand as he makes the important clearance. It’s never a penalty and the Arsenal players knew it.

 Lewis-Skelly is taken off for Gabriel; Gyokeres is replaced by Jesus

Some confusion as the teenager is booked for failing to take a throw-in quickly enough, while he waited for a substitute to be made.

Arsenal are being punished for their lack of clinical edge in the first half. Now it’s Brighton who are on the front foot but met by a red wall of defenders.

The Seagulls are back in the match with their first purposeful shot of the game. Minteh creates the chance before Ayari’s effort through a crowd crashes against the post. Gomez is quickest to respond and he rifles home.

The forward had a difficult first half but is showing signs of improvement. He battles against Kadioglu and then fires an effort across goal from a tight angle. Goalkeeper Verbruggen is equal to the effort.

Moments later Saka sees his shot from the edge of the box blocked by Dunk.