Arsenal and Brighton both entered Saturday’s match with perfect records, having secured maximum points from their opening fixtures. From the outset, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal looked the more assertive side, with Bukayo Saka immediately testing Brighton’s goalkeeper, Bart Verbruggen, in the first couple of minutes.
The Gunners continued to assert their dominance, controlling possession and playing fluid football, particularly through Saka, who remained at the heart of their attacks. He once again challenged Verbruggen during the first ten minutes, as Arsenal looked threatening and maintained pressure on the Brighton defence.
Brighton’s early misfortune came in the form of an injury to James Milner just 15 minutes into the game, necessitating an early substitution and disrupting their midfield setup. Despite this setback, Arsenal persisted with their probing around Brighton’s penalty area, seeking to capitalise on their control of the game.
As the match progressed, Brighton gradually grew into the contest, seeing more of the ball and forcing Arsenal to defend. Kaoru Mitoma came close with a shot that went wide, and Yankuba Minteh also tested Arsenal’s goalkeeper, David Raya. These chances indicated that Brighton was beginning to find their footing after a difficult start.
However, Arsenal’s efforts were finally rewarded seven minutes before the half-time whistle. Bukayo Saka expertly controlled a long ball before cleverly flicking it to Kai Havertz. The German forward then showed his composure, lobbing the onrushing Bart Verbruggen to give Arsenal a deserved lead after their strong first-half display.
The goal underscored Arsenal’s dominance in the first half, with Saka playing a pivotal role both in build-up play and in creating the scoring opportunity. Although Brighton had moments of promise, Arsenal’s quality in attack ultimately proved decisive, with Havertz’s goal setting the tone for the remainder of the match.
The opening half showcased Arsenal’s attacking intent and the threat they posed whenever they were in possession, with Brighton struggling to match their intensity and fluency. However, Brighton did manage to create some opportunities of their own, ensuring that the match remained competitive despite Arsenal’s lead at the break.
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