Brighton vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction as Gunners extend lead at the top

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal take on Brighton with hopes of maintaining their lead at the top of the Premier League table

Arteta insists potential new Arsenal striker needs to be the right fit

Premier League leaders Arsenal moved seven points clear at the top going into the new year after a glorious Gabriel Martinelli goal capped a thrilling 4-2 victory at Brighton.

Goals from Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Eddie Nketiah set the Gunners on course for a fifth consecutive top-flight success to cement their status as serious title contenders.

Kaoru Mitoma reduced Albion’s deficit 25 minutes from time before Martinelli, aided by a wonderful Odegaard assist, raced half the length of the pitch to stylishly restore the three-goal advantage.

Seagulls substitute Evan Ferguson increased the tension going into the final stages by claiming his first Premier League goal, while Mitoma thought he had set up a grandstand finish, only for his 89th-minute strike to be disallowed for offside.

Despite the unwanted anxiety of the late drama, the in-form visitors held on to celebrate an impressive victory and take a healthy advantage into 2023.

Follow all the reaction from Brighton vs Arsenal in the Premier League:

Brighton vs Arsenal

• Roberto De Zerbi’s men are looking to record back-to-back wins after victory over Southampton
• Arsenal are guaranteed to start 2023 top of the table but will want to maintain their lead over rivals
• 90’ NO GOAL! - Mitoma’s effort ruled out for offside (BHA 2-4 ARS)
• 77’ GOAL! - Ferguson scores first Premier League goal (BHA 2-4 ARS)
• 71’ GOAL! - Martinelli restores Arsenal’s three goal lead (BHA 1-4 ARS)
• 65’ GOAL! - Mitoma pulls one back for Brighton (BHA 1-3 ARS)
• 57’ SAVE! - Gabriel’s volley is kept out by Sanchez (BHA 0-3 ARS)
• 47’ GOAL! - Nketiah taps home Martinelli’s blocked shot early in second half (BHA 0-3 ARS)
• 39’ GOAL! - Odegaard adds a second from a corner (BHA 0-2 ARS)
• 27’ SAVE! - Ramsdale tips Trossard’s long range effort over the bar (BHA 0-1 ARS)
• 15’ CHANCE! - Trossard’s effort turned wide by Ramsdale (BHA 0-1 ARS)
• 2’ GOAL! - Saka blasts Arsenal ahead early on (BHA 0-1 ARS)

[31 December 2022 18:49 · Michael Jones]

Brighton 0-3 Arsenal

57 mins: Chance! An Arsenal free kick is whipped into the box and perfectly finds Gabriel who turns a volley towards goal and forces Robert Sanchez into a point blank save!

The ball comes out to William Saliba, who fancies his chances, and he smokes a second effort high and wide.

[31 December 2022 18:47 · Michael Jones]

Brighton 0-3 Arsenal

56 mins: Eddie Nketiah is played down the right wing when Arsenal clear their lines. He carries the ball forward and wins a free kick when swarmed by three Brighton defenders.

[31 December 2022 18:42 · Michael Jones]

Brighton 0-3 Arsenal

53 mins: Save! Brighton almost get one back as Adam Lallana makes a run into the penalty area from the right and is given the ball. He threads one in behind the defence where Pascal Gross pops up and turns the balltowards goal.

Aaron Ramsdale has the near post covered and palms the ball behind before the offside flag gets raised.

[31 December 2022 18:41 · Michael Jones]

Brighton 0-3 Arsenal

50 mins: Gabriel Martinelli doesn’t have a goal to his name yet tonight but he’s created two goals for Arsenal with his direct runs and composure around the box. It was his deflected cross that set up Saka in the first half.

It’s a long way back for Brighton now. Arsenal are making what should have been a tricky contest look very simple.

[31 December 2022 18:37 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Brighton 0-3 Arsenal (Nketiah, 47’)⚽️

47 mins: Game over! Arsenal transition up the pitch after a Brighton counter-attack and feed the ball over to Gabriel Martinelli on the left wing.

Martinelli brings the ball into the penalty area and blasts a shot at goal. Robert Sanchez manages to keep it out but spills the ball and Eddie Nketiah is on hand to poke it home!

[31 December 2022 18:36 · Michael Jones]

Second half: Brighton 0-2 Arsenal

Brighton get the match restarted for the second half. There hasn’t been any changes in personnel at the half-time break from either team.

Will Arsenal close out the game or can Brighton spark a comeback?

[31 December 2022 18:32 · Michael Jones]

Joao Palhinha earns Fulham late win over rock bottom Southampton

Southampton will begin 2023 at the foot of the Premier League after a last-gasp Joao Palhinha goal condemned them to a 2-1 defeat at Fulham.

James Ward-Prowse thought he had secured a first point under new Saints boss Nathan Jones after scoring a free-kick to cancel out his own own-goal.

But Palhinha struck a minute from time with a far-post header to leave Southampton rock bottom.

Fulham, meanwhile, will end the year as top dogs in west London after climbing above Chelsea and Brentford, despite top-scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic missing a stoppage-time penalty.

[31 December 2022 18:30 · Michael Jones]

Eberechi Eze scores to ensure Crystal Palace secure victory in front of Bournemouth’s new owners

Crystal Palace picked up three crucial points in their final game of 2022 with a 2-0 Premier League win at AFC Bournemouth.

Both goals for Palace, who had failed to register any shots on target in their Boxing Day loss to Fulham, came from first-half set pieces.

Jordan Ayew opened the scoring when he nodded in a corner from Michael Olise, who also set up Eberechi Eze for the Eagles’ second.

New Bournemouth owners Bill Foley and actor Michael B. Jordan were introduced on the pitch before kick-off, but the sprinkle of Hollywood stardust did little to lift Gary O’Neil’s side.

[31 December 2022 18:28 · Michael Jones]

Another Erling Haaland goal not enough as Man City are held by Everton

Over a season, a great goalscorer will prove more prolific than the scorer of great goals. Over 90 minutes, however, the inevitable was cancelled out by the memorable. Erling Haaland got his seemingly mandatory strike, but Demarai Gray delivered a magnificent one.

Manchester City encountered unexpected resistance and Frank Lampard grasped at a lifeline to end Everton’s losing run. This was only a draw but there is a case for anointing it his best result of the season, as well as perhaps his most needed.

Certainly it seemed the most improbable. Everton had not taken a point from their previous nine league games against City. A goal down, facing up to a fifth successive defeat in all competitions, their fears of relegation mounting, they did not muster a shot of any description until Gray sprang a surprise. What they lacked in quantity, however, they provided in quality.

[31 December 2022 18:26 · Michael Jones]

Newcastle frustrated by resolute Leeds as six-game winning streak ends

Fabian Schar wasted a hat-trick of chances as Newcastle’s hopes of a seventh successive Premier League win were dashed by Leeds United.

The Magpies’ best opportunities on an ultimately barren afternoon fell to the Switzerland international and fellow defender Dan Burn, but neither was able to break the deadlock and the Yorkshiremen emerged with a hard-fought 0-0 draw at St James’ Park.

Eddie Howe’s men dominated, particularly after the break, but were unable to find a way past goalkeeper Illan Meslier, and it took a fine save from opposite number Nick Pope to prevent Rodrigo from snatching three points in front of a crowd of 52,211.