Arsenal 2-0 Brighton - Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz on target as dominant Gunners breeze to Premier League win

Gabriel Jesus headed the opener as Arsenal returned to winning ways in the Premier League with a dominant 2-0 victory over Brighton at the Emirates.

Mikel Arteta's impressive side lost 1-0 to Aston Villa last week at Villa Park, but showed their superior technical class as a header from Jesus on 53 minutes and a lovely finish from Kai Havertz on 87 minutes secured a merited three points.

Arsenal were almost made to pay for squandering several goalscoring opportunities in a one-sided contest as Pascal Gross somehow knocked the ball wide from five yards out from Kaoru Mitoma's cross before Havertz eased the tension with his side's second.

It was Arsenal's first home win over Brighton in four matches after three straight defeats in all competitions as they moved two points clear of Liverpool at the top of the table before Jurgen Klopp's men hosted Manchester United later on Sunday.

Brighton - who failed to score in the Premier League for the first time this season - are ninth with 26 points from 17 matches.

It was an outstanding team performance from Arsenal, who dominated the ball and chances and forced Brighton to spend the entire first period in their own half.

The only worrying aspect from the day was their failure to add more goals with Gross almost making the home side pay for their largesse late on when he slipped the ball wide with Brighton's only clear-cut chance of the match.

Arsenal return to Premier League action when they visit Liverpool on Saturday, a match in which they might have to be clinical.

Still, it is not the worst problem to have in football.

A quality operator in midfield, who was at the heart of everything good about a vibrant home side at the Emirates and unlucky not to score in the second half.

Class and consistency sum up the bounding Rice at his very best. Never seems to throw in a poor performance for Mikel Arteta's title-chasing team.

Arsenal: Raya 6, White 7, Saliba 7, Gabriel 7, Zinchenko 7, Rice 9, Odegaard 8, Havertz 7, Saka 7, Martinelli 7, Jesus 8 Subs: Smith Rowe 6, Nketiah 6, Kiwior 6, Trossard 6, Nelson 6

Brighton: Verbruggen 8, Veltman 6, Van Hecke 7, Dunk 8, Milner 6, Gilmour 6, Gross 6, Adingra 6, Lallana 6, Mitoma 6, Ferguson 6 Subs: Joao Pedro 6, Welbeck 6, Buonanotte 6, Hinshelwood 6, Igor Julio 6

15' ARSENAL CONTINUE TO PILE ON THE PRESSURE Saka sees an effort blocked after being played in by Rice before Odegaard sees a shot drift a yard or two wide of goal after some more inventive play. The right-hand side is offering Arsenal plenty of scope so far.

33' GOLDEN CHANCE FOR GUNNERS Odegaard with a super ball into the path of Saka, whose cutback is lifted over the bar by Martinelli with Verbruggen off his line. Brilliant move by the home side, but no goal to go with it.

54' GOAL FOR ARSENAL! (JESUS) Gabriel Jesus heads home at the back post after a Saka corner come off the head of Van Hecke as he tried to clear. Poor defending by the visitors, and that is the vital opening goal.

66' BRILLIANT FROM DUNK That is fabulous defending from Dunk to head off his line under the bar after White had flicked on the Martinelli corner. Was heading into the net. Dunk outstanding for Brighton today.

84' BRIGHTON SQUANDER GREAT CHANCE Mitoma with the ball across goal for Brighton. Looked to be an easy finish, but Gross slides it wide of goal. How did he miss that? Huge let-off for Arsenal

87' GOAL FOR ARSENAL (HAVERTZ) Kai Havertz races through on goal from the Nketiah pass. Lovely chipped finish and that is a 2-0 lead for Arsenal. Finally for the Gunners. Should have been more really with the amount of pressure applied.

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