Arsenal secured a vital three points at the Amex Stadium, defeating Brighton 1-0 thanks to an early strike from Bukayo Saka.
Saka's ninth-minute goal proved the decisive moment in a tightly contested Premier League encounter on March 4, 2026.
The Gunners arrived on the south coast as league leaders, aiming to strengthen their title challenge. Brighton, sitting 11th, sought a return to winning ways after an inconsistent run of form.
Arsenal wasted no time asserting their intent. Jurriën Timber provided a precise assist in the ninth minute, setting up Bukayo Saka. Saka made no mistake, firing the ball past the Brighton goalkeeper.
However, the visitors soon faced a setback. Defender Cristhian Mosquera received a yellow card for a tripping foul just two minutes after the goal. This showed the intensity building early.
Brighton then tried to find an immediate response. They pushed forward, seeking to test David Raya in the Arsenal goal. Despite their efforts, they struggled to create clear-cut chances before the interval.
At halftime, Brighton needed to adjust their attacking approach to break down Arsenal's resolute defense. Arsenal aimed to maintain their lead and control the midfield battle.
The second half saw Brighton make an immediate change, bringing on Kaoru Mitoma for Yankuba Minteh. Midfielder D. Gomez then earned a yellow card for holding an Arsenal player in the 52nd minute. This card showed increasing frustration for the home side.
Arsenal responded with tactical substitutions. Viktor Gyokeres entered for Kai Havertz in the 59th minute. Gabriel Martinelli replaced Leandro Trossard shortly after. Cristhian Mosquera was also replaced by Riccardo Calafiori in the 64th minute.
Brighton continued to press for an equalizer, making multiple changes. Jack Hinshelwood replaced Danny Welbeck in the 69th minute. Mats Wieffer came on for Joel Veltman, and Carlos Baleba entered for Yasin Ayari in the 78th minute. D. Gomez made way for H. Howell at the same time.
The final stages grew heated with a flurry of Brighton yellow cards. Olivier Boscagli and Ferdi Kadioglu were booked for unsportsmanlike conduct in quick succession. Yasin Ayari also received a yellow card for holding in stoppage time as Brighton desperately sought a late goal.
Brighton dominated possession with 60% and registered 11 total shots, with three on target. However, their expected goals (xG) stood at 0.71. Arsenal, with 40% possession, managed seven shots, two on target, and an xG of 0.44. David Raya made two crucial saves for the visitors.
This narrow victory propelled Arsenal to 64 points, solidifying their position at the top of the Premier League table. Brighton remained in 11th place, still searching for consistency in their campaign.
