Recap

Arsenal 2–1 Brighton & Hove Albion — Arsenal hold on after late scare at the Emirates

• Arsenal beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2–1 at the Emirates Stadium, with Martin Ødegaard opening the scoring and Gabriel Jesus doubling the lead before João Gomes pulled one back for Brighton late on to set up a tense finish.

Match overview and final score

• Arsenal 2–1 Brighton & Hove Albion — Final score at the Emirates.

Key events, goalscorers and timeline

• First half — Arsenal take the initiative: Arsenal took control in the first half and opened the scoring through Martin Ødegaard, who finished to put the hosts ahead early in the match.
• Second goal — Arsenal double their lead: Arsenal increased their advantage when Gabriel Jesus scored to make it 2–0, giving the Gunners what looked like a comfortable cushion heading into the closing stages.
• Brighton fightback — late goal: Brighton reduced the deficit late on when João Gomes found the net, making it 2–1 and producing a nervy finale for Arsenal as Brighton searched for an equaliser.

Notable incidents and match context

• Brighton’s late surge: After falling 2–0 behind, Brighton pushed hard in the closing stages and were rewarded with a goal that threatened an improbable comeback, forcing Arsenal to defend resolutely in added time.
• Goalkeeper and defensive moments: The game featured important saves and defensive interventions from both sides as Brighton looked to capitalise on momentum after their late goal while Arsenal sought to manage the game and see out the win.
• Turning points: The second goal from Gabriel Jesus was decisive in giving Arsenal a two-goal cushion; however, João Gomes’s strike made the final minutes more competitive and indicated Brighton’s resilience.

Player highlights

• Martin Ødegaard — Opened the scoring and helped to control Arsenal’s play in midfield, providing leadership and attacking impetus.
• Gabriel Jesus — Scored Arsenal’s second to extend the lead and proved a key attacking outlet for the home side.
• João Gomes — Came up with a late goal for Brighton to reduce the arrears and spark a late wave of pressure.

What this result means (brief context)

• The win gave Arsenal three points at home and maintained momentum after a strong run of form, though Brighton’s late goal underlined that the visitors remained dangerous right to the final whistle.
• Brighton showed character by finding a way back into the game after going two goals down, leaving Arsenal to defend their lead nervously in the latter stages.

Additional notes

• No red cards were decisive in the match, and the fixture was played with a competitive intensity typical for Premier League encounters between two sides with aspirations in their respective league positions.
• Key tactical observation: Arsenal’s ability to create and convert chances in the first and second periods proved decisive, while Brighton’s persistence meant the final scoreline reflected a hard-fought contest rather than a straightforward victory.
• Match significance: The result was important for Arsenal’s domestic campaign, while Brighton will take encouragement from their late goal and the prospect of turning such pressure into a fuller comeback in future fixtures.