Arsenal vs Brighton Player Ratings: Martin Odegaard Ensures Arsenal Maintains Momentum with a Narrow 2-1 Victory

Arsenal came out of the blocks with blistering intensity. They completely dominated the first period of this Premier League clash. It felt like every attack could lead to a goal. The breakthrough felt inevitable, and ultimately, it came from the captain. Martin Odegaard fired a superb strike from distance in the 14th minute. After that, Arsenal just kept coming, creating chance after chance. The 1-0 scoreline at halftime genuinely flattered Brighton & Hove Albion.

The second half saw the home side double their lead through a slice of misfortune for the visitors. An unfortunate own goal from Georginio Rutter put Arsenal 2-0 up. However, Brighton showed real character to fight back. Diego Gómez scored a fantastic goal to set up a tense finish. Despite a late surge from the Seagulls, the Gunners held on for a deserved 2-1 victory in a match that was more one-sided than the score suggests. Here are Sportsdunia's Arsenal vs Brighton player ratings.

Arsenal Player Ratings vs Brighton & Hove Albion

Check out the Arsenal player ratings for the Arsenal vs Brighton fixture.

Goalkeeper

David Raya - 6.5: Had very little to do for large parts of the game. He made a crucial save in the second half to deny Yankuba Minteh, which was vital. Could do nothing about the sublime finish from Gómez. His distribution was a bit mixed, but he was solid when it counted.

Defenders

William Saliba - 7.0: The picture of calm at the back. He was so composed in possession, with a 91% pass accuracy. Won all of his duels and made three important clearances. It was a typically serene and effective performance from the Frenchman.

Piero Hincapié - 6.0: A more eventful evening for Hincapié. He was tidy on the ball for the most part, but also picked up a late yellow card. What stood out to us was a slight rashness in the tackle, which he needs to be careful about.

Declan Rice - 6.5: Playing in a deeper, more defensive role, he looked a little less influential than usual. He made some key interceptions and blocks, reading the game well. However, he also lost possession 14 times, which is uncharacteristic.

Myles Lewis-Skelly - 5.5: It was a tough learning experience for the youngster. He struggled against Brighton's late pressure and picked up a booking for a clumsy challenge. He looked a bit overwhelmed at times before being substituted.

Midfielders

Martin Ødegaard - 8.5: Our man of the match. He was simply unplayable, especially in the first half. Scored a magnificent opening goal and was the creative hub, creating five chances for his teammates. He dictated the tempo of the entire game.

Mikel Merino - 6.5: A real workhorse in the middle of the park. He won a high number of duels and wasn't afraid to get stuck in. His passing was a bit wayward at times, but his energy and commitment were undeniable.

Martín Zubimendi - 7.5: The silent controller in Arsenal's midfield. His 93% pass accuracy tells you everything you need to know about his composure on the ball. He was so tidy and kept everything moving, even forcing a good save with a shot of his own.

Forwards

Bukayo Saka - 8.0: A constant menace down the right wing. He may not have scored, but he provided an assist and was a thorn in Brighton's side all evening, taking seven shots. His direct running and creativity were top-notch. He was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet himself.

Viktor Gyökeres - 6.0: He looked lively and got into some good positions, forcing a couple of saves from the keeper. However, his finishing was not quite there today. From our perspective, his movement was good, but he just lacked that clinical edge before being subbed.

Leandro Trossard - 7.0: Extremely creative, racking up four key passes and linking play beautifully. He really should have scored a big chance in the first half, which was the only blot on his copybook.

Substitutes

Gabriel Magalhães - 6.5: Came on to add defensive steel and helped see out the win.

Gabriel Jesus - 6.0: Looked energetic but didn't have a clear-cut chance.

Gabriel Martinelli - 6.5: Almost scored with a good effort and caused problems with his pace.

Manager

M. Arteta - 7.5: His game plan worked perfectly for the first hour, with his side completely dominant. He will be slightly disappointed they let Brighton back into the game. His substitutions were timely and helped secure the three points. A solid tactical win.

Brighton Player Ratings vs Arsenal

Check out the Brighton player ratings for the Arsenal vs Brighton fixture.

Goalkeeper

Bart Verbruggen - 7.0: Without him, this could have been a hammering. He made five saves, some of which were outstanding, to keep his team in the match. He was a commanding presence and couldn't be faulted for either goal.

Defenders

Lewis Dunk - 6.0: A very difficult afternoon for the Brighton captain. He made a couple of vital blocks but was part of a defence that was under constant pressure. Picked up a yellow card and struggled to contain Arsenal's fluid attack. He never gave up, though.

Jan Paul van Hecke - 7.5: Brighton's best player on the day alongside Gómez. He was a warrior at the back, making an incredible seven clearances and five blocked shots. He put his body on the line time and time again.

Diego Coppola - 5.0: It was a day to forget for the defender. He looked off the pace, was booked, and was eventually substituted. He was given a torrid time by Arsenal's forwards and struggled to cope with their movement.

Midfielders

Jack Hinshelwood - 6.0: He had one shot on target but was largely anonymous. The game seemed to pass him by in midfield, as Arsenal's engine room was just too powerful. He worked hard but couldn't make an impact before being taken off.

Ferdi Kadıoğlu - 6.0: Ran his socks off but had a tough time both defensively and offensively. He was pinned back for large periods and couldn't provide the attacking spark he's capable of.

Yasin Ayari - 6.5: An all-action, if chaotic, performance. He hit the woodwork and had several attempts on goal. However, he was also guilty of losing the ball in dangerous areas. He was a threat, but his final decision-making was lacking.

Maxim De Cuyper - 4.5: Completely ineffective in the first half and was rightly hooked at the break. He offered nothing going forward and was a passenger defensively. A really poor display where he just couldn't get into the game at all.

Forwards

Brajan Gruda - 4.0: A disastrous 45 minutes for the forward. He was completely anonymous and, according to the stats, made an error leading to a goal. Substituted at half-time, and it wasn't a surprise. The worst performer on the pitch.

Georginio Rutter - 4.5: A nightmare game for the attacker. The decisive moment was his unfortunate own goal, which effectively killed the contest. Beyond that, he was isolated and offered very little threat up front. One he will want to forget quickly.

Diego Gómez - 8.0: The one shining light for Brighton. He scored an absolutely brilliant goal out of nothing to give his team a lifeline. He worked tirelessly and was rewarded with a moment of real quality. He can hold his head high.

Substitutes

Mats Wieffer - 6.5: Brought some much-needed control and solidity to Brighton's midfield.

Yankuba Minteh - 7.0: Looked very dangerous after coming on, forcing a great save from Raya.

Danny Welbeck - 6.0: Tried to make things happen but had little service.

Charalampos Kostoulas - N/A: Not enough time to make an impact.

Tom Watson - N/A: A late defensive change.

Manager

F. Hürzeler - 5.5: His initial tactics and team selection were wrong, as his side was completely overrun. To his credit, his half-time changes made a positive difference. The team showed more fight in the second half, but the damage was already done.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match Goes to Martin Ødegaard