A short trip along the South Coast to his former home was a worthwhile journey for ex-Southampton man Adam Lallana, who still kept his celebrations to a minimum when scoring the opening goal at St Mary’s – potentially out of sympathy for Gavin Bazunu as much as anything else.
Lallana’s header seeped through Bazunu’s grasp before Romain Perraud turned into his own net before the break, and Solly March then let fly with a wonderful strike into the top corner before James Ward-Prowse grabbed a late consolation for the Saints.
Roberto De Zerbi had warned Brighton’s latest foes to be wary of an “angry” Seagulls XI following their EFL Cup exit at the hands of League One side Charlton Athletic, but by reverting to type in the Premier League, this weekend’s hosts remain in European contention in seventh place in the table.
Depending on how Liverpool fare against Leicester City on Friday, Brighton could find themselves entering 2023 in the top six after a memorable calendar year under Graham Potter and De Zerbi, although the latter has already lost two of his four home Premier League games in charge of the Seagulls.
Nevertheless, Brighton’s defensive resilience at the Amex is well and truly alive – conceding a mere six goals in Premier League home matches during the 2022-23 season so far – and the Seagulls have established a reputation as Arsenal’s bogey team in recent years.
Thriving under the pressure of filling Gabriel Jesus’s boots, Arsenal’s number 14 Eddie Nketiah insisted that he did not want to be seen as a replacement for his stricken teammate after completing an eye-catching Gunners turnaround in their London derby with West Ham.
The Premier League leaders had work to do in the second 45 after Said Benrahma’s penalty put the Hammers a goal to the good, but Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Nketiah’s lovely swivel and finish ensured that the Gunners would pick up where they left off.
Victory over their capital counterparts temporarily allowed Arsenal to steer seven points clear of Newcastle United at the summit; that gap has now been cut back down to five points
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following Manchester City’s success over Leeds United, but Mikel Arteta’s men are guaranteed to celebrate New Year’s Eve at the top of the table.
The naysayers will point out the fact that Arsenal still have two fixtures against Man City to come, but every other side to hit 40 points after their first 15 Premier League
matches of the season has gone on to win the title, and the World Cup break does not appear to have disrupted the runaway leaders’ momentum.
Arsenal travel to the Amex having picked up 13 points from the last 15 on offer away from home – conceding a mere one goal in that hot streak – but Brighton overcame a weakened Gunners side 3-1 in the EFL Cup just last month and have only ever suffered one Premier League defeat to the capital club in front of the Amex faithful
