Second half goals from Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz helped Arsenal to an impressive 2-0 win over Brighton on an afternoon when Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice delivered superb performances in the middle of the park.
The win opens a five-point gap on fourth-place Manchester City and takes the Gunners top of the table ahead of next weekend’s massive clash with Liverpool, who could only manage a 0-0 draw at home to Manchester United this afternoon.
Here’s what the managers, players, pundits and statisticians had to say…
Mikel Arteta on the win…
I think it was a phenomenal performance with a great feeling as well because of what happened last season, and the demands that Brighton put on you. The team was outstanding today from the start to the end, and thankfully we deserved to win the game, and we won it. I was concerned because I think we had 15 shots in the first half and we had so many open situations to put the ball in the back of the net, but we didn’t, and this is the Premier League. We kept going in the second half, and in the end we found two very different goals, a great way to score them and I’m really happy today.
Source: Arsenal.com
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Roberto De Zerbi on Brighton’s performance…
I’m disappointed for the result, but we deserved to lose, Arsenal played much better than us and deserved to win. We defended well and fought in a good way but to be honest they played much better. We spent a lot of energy [beating Marseille] on Thursday, and we prepared for this game with one meeting so sometimes we have to be honest and congratulate Arsenal, they are the best team in the Premier League [so far] this season.
Source: Brighton official website
32 – Brighton had scored in each of their last 32 Premier League games before today, averaging 2.1 goals, 2 xG and 17 shots per game in that period.
vs. Arsenal: 0 goals, 6 shots and 0.7 xG.
Shutdown. pic.twitter.com/lShCLYO3Zh
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 17, 2023
Kai Havertz on being more confident…
Your confidence always goes high when you score and contribute. That’s the same with me, I’m happy and now it’s about being consistent with it, regularly week-by-week, and trying to keep that form going.
Source: Arsenal.com
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Arteta on Kai Havertz’s improvement in recent games…
In terms of goals, yes. In terms of performances, it’s exactly the same as he was at the start of the season. You can see he’s confident and enjoying his football.
Source: BBC Sport
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Gabriel Jesus on what Kai Havertz has brought to the team…
Oh, a lot, a lot, you know. We always joke, he won the Champions League against me and I want to win with him. We always joke, and now I want to win with him and Jorgi as well, but he’s an amazing player, the way he plays, he’s so strong, tall, and then quality, he helped us a lot. He’s quite a bit like me, fighting every time, helping the team, the way this guy runs is massive. So, yeah, we are very happy we have him.
Source: Sky Sports
Kai Havertz now has more open play goals than Chelsea this season
— JB™️ (@gunnerpunner) December 17, 2023
Arteta on birthday boy Odegaard…
He wanted to celebrate his beautiful birthday today in a great way – and he’s done it, with a win, with a huge performance.
Source: Post-game press conference
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Arteta on what Declan Rice brings to Arsenal’s midfield…
He’s giving us a different dimension, the presence that he’s got, the threat he’s got in that midfield to win balls, to participate, to speed the game up, to break up the play, it’s top. He’s getting better and better and he can still improve, we’re really happy to have him.
Source: bein SPORTS
Got the job done. Onto the next one 💪🏼 #YaGunnersYa pic.twitter.com/hXRTtcIFX0
— Kai Havertz (@kaihavertz29) December 17, 2023
Mikel Arteta on waving for Mitoma to get a yellow card and getting one for his troubles…
I was waving to Martinelli, see you! [laughs and leaves interview]
Source: bein SPORTS
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Richard Keys on Arteta’s yellow card…
Booked. Descrasia. The definition of madness, doing the same thing over and over and over and over again and expecting a different outcome. Booked, Mikel Arteta. It was only last week he was sat in the stands accumulating three.
Source: bein SPORTS
Kai Havertz in his last 7 games with Arsenal: 4 goals.
His previous 40 games: 4 goals.
Arsenal has a plan for him. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/sHCwOJE66r
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) December 17, 2023
Lewis Dunk on the match…
I think they were just the better side overall, they pressed us super aggressively and we struggled to play the usual football we play and that’s not usually us. We had to do a different side of the game today and we made some clearances, some blocks, we were doing well enough to keep the ball out of the net but then concede at a set piece where there was a flick to the back post and it’s frustrating. It’s difficult from there. We had a big chance with Pascal [Gross] after going one-nil down, at 1-1 it changes the game and we get an extra boost but it wasn’t meant to be. We have to brush ourselves down.
Source: bein SPORTS
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Arteta on whether set piece coach Nicolas Jover deserves a Christmas bonus…
Maybe. We can think about it.
Source: Post-game press conference (via Hayters)
Arsenal 2-0 Brighton
Arsenal go top of the Premier League, for a few hours at least…
Aside from a Pascal Gross chance late on, it was one-way traffic at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal won't have had many more comfortable games against Brighton than that one #ARSBHA pic.twitter.com/J4yXVvfOOl
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) December 17, 2023
Clinton Morrison (yeah, we know…) on Arsenal’s form…
Brighton were well beaten. They’ve qualified for Europe so it’s been a long week for them but I think Arsenal were fantastic. Arsenal aren’t at the top of their game but they’re winning football matches and that’s the sign of champions. If they can keep this up, then they can push Liverpool and Manchester City to the end. It’s going to be close.
Source: BBC Sport
Please don’t include quotes from Keys. The man is a wind up merchant dinosaur
The WUMassurous Rex.
It is enjoyable that we put his blood pressure through the roof.
Hence the reason we included it on this occasion.
If AFC fans all mass-ignored him and Neville. they would lose half the clicks. cos as a fanbase, we own the net. Why we have 29 AFC podcasts.. Mangan set it all in motion, who knew, eh?
Yes, be a better person than I could ever be and don’t bother with these cunts. There is nothing worse than no thumbs up or down.. no one cares?
So sad.
“Nothing worse than no thumbs up or down”. Feel for you mate.
The man should be starved of air. He left British TV because he was sexually harassing women in the work place. He then cheated on his wife who was being treated for cancer at the time. Utterly repulsive cretin. Don’t give him the platform.
They make prime ministers out of his kind in the UK. Doesn’t make Keys any less of a cunt of course.
Richard Keys. The definition of madness: spouting the same bollocks over and over and over and over again and assuming that anybody gives the slightest shit what he thinks.
When you mention that cunt in here.. I get it. Guys like me get it. Any time his name is mentioned – good or bad, it matters to him. Some of us – just need a hug or a punch in the head. it is all human contact. Where is Bruno Guimaraes when you need him?
Fuck that clown. Yes. Both. Clowns.
Yeh dont give Keys any air. He’s a horrible bitter man who deserves to be sent to the moon.
What’s the moon ever done?
Hehehe…
But does the moon deserve him?
He is a lunatic..
Lunartic. I’ll get my coat..
Lol. Everyone agrees that Declan Rice can still get even better. That should be honestly scary for our and England’s opponents.
He was freaking amazing! He is some player. Just bosses the park! Rice-Rice-Baby!
part of the reason why he’s such an exciting signing for us is that not only will he get better, but he will continue to make our team better.
I feel like we won the lottery every time I see this player in our squad. Then I remember we also have the world’s best young CB and a world top 5 RW. We are blessed.
I’ve been trying to think of a past player to compare him with and (though he doesn’t have the long range shooting repertoire- yet) he reminds me of Gerrard. He can carry a team on his shoulders.
Gerrard couldn’t do half of what he did without mascherano playing defense for him, the slippy scouse.
Patrick Vieira
Surely Viera? Solid tackling, took no sh!t, and strode through the midfield delivering a killer pass.
Gerrard doesn’t even come close
Manure clinging on against puddles is a great result!
Top of the pops Ladies and Gents! COYG!
xG for and against speaks volumes. Dominant, but we need to get a bit more clinical, and I was shitting my pants against that Gross chance. I was just watching for it to be rippling the back of the net.
Definitely need to step it up looking at our next fixtures compared with Villa’s and allowing for Citeh usual revival after Christmas.
We can do it though!!
Although he has great pace, I don’t think you can say Odegaard’s game depends on that. So, seven, eight more years at this level. Happy birthday, Martin.
I want to see him improve his play back to goal. That’s a real weakness of his that opponents key in on. Arteta has dropped him deeper so he can participate more in the buildup and that has been a really positive development in the balance of the team so he doesn’t have to play like a CF which we’ve seen at times when Jesus drifts out and there’s nobody in the box. Anyway, a seemingly small thing that I don’t think gets much recognition but is actually hugely important to his game and the overall function of the team.
“Martin Ødegaard needs to improve his hold up play” that’s a hell of a take
richard keys deserves a permanent red card from football. he’s just an old, bitter, disrespectful piece of human garbage.
Still top btw, Liverpool 0:0 Man U 🙂
Taylor’s (now) trademark®️ double yellow was hilarious.
Oliver, maybe? But yes, I’m laughing at that all week. I’ll be amazed if Dime Bag doesn’t fine Dalot his week’s wages.
I’ll be amazed if Dalot doesn’t complain about that and get fined another week’s wages for dissent.
funny too, because dalot was pretty good for united (why are their fullbacks the most attacking players on their team when they spent 180m on new attacking players for ten hag? its like a somehow worse and more expensive mate fc)
“Richard Keys on Arteta’s yellow card…”
Meanwhile back in reality, bonking your daughter’s best friend is enough of a disgrace to make a yellow card at a football match pale in comparison.
Yes Richard “ Hairy knuckles “ Keys is indeed a slime bag of the highest order.An Arsenal hater to boot.
Thankfully. Imagine the shame if he was a gooner.
Piers Morgan is bad enough.
De Zerbi is an honest guy, isn’t he? He was honest about his team being well beaten. He also let us know how he felt about refs the last time which is honest too
Amazing performance today! Left it a bit late with the 2nd goal. Was getting nervous when we kept missing those chances. Hopefully Liverpool will play their first team against West Ham midweek and give as an edge next weekend with our players getting the extra break.
why is no one talking about villa!
Emery knows how to win Trophys and the fact that Leicester won the league before, gives hope to every team.
Because this is an Arsenal forum.
I meant it in the sense that no one seems to be taking them as serious title contenders.
they did beat us and city after all.
some mental pressure on their players would be good for us.
I thought Arteta was gesturing to the crowd more than anything? Maybe that’s just me.
Anyway, Fuck the PGMOL, Fuck the FA
I’ll just add that if Arteta and the Arsenal players didn’t react, he wasn’t going to give mitoma a yellow. The ref (who ever the fuck it was) was so reluctant to do it and only the attention brought to the situation made him realise “I’ll look like a cheat if I don’t give a yellow for the same situation here”.