Brighton v Arsenal live: Gunners get huge boost in Premier League title race as results go their way

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·4 March 2026

Brighton v Arsenal live: Gunners get huge boost in Premier League title race as results go their way

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'A difficult game' - Arteta on Arsenal's narrow win at Brighton

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Arsenal have received a monumental boost in their bid to win a first Premier League title in 22 years after stretching their advantage at the top to seven points with victory at Brighton.

Bukayo Saka’s ninth-minute strike proved the difference, cutting in from the right before firing a deflected effort that went through the legs of Brighton stopper Bart Verbruggen.

The game could’ve taken a completely different shape had Carlos Baleba capitalised on an early David Raya howler, who was lobbed after gifting the Cameroonian the ball but had his skin saved by Gabriel, there to head off the line.

And after staving off a Seagulls comeback for the rest of the contest, two separate roars were heard from the away end after the final whistle with title rivals Manchester City being held to a 2-2 draw by Nottingham Forest.

Pinned

Mikel Arteta brushes off naysayers and critics as Arsenal win ugly at Brighton to stay on course for title

Arsenal toil to just about do enough, but it may mean an awful lot more.

Mikel Arteta’s minimalism led to what was almost the maximum outcome on the night at Brighton, as a 1-0 victory ensured they went seven points clear with a game more played. The news that Manchester City had drawn 2-2 with Nottingham Forest was greeted by even greater celebration from the Arsenal travelling support than their own final whistle. Moments later, for the first time this season, they were singing “we’re gonna win the league”.

That might yet tempt fate but it’s hard to begrudge them given how big this felt for the season. It’s just that there have rarely been matches so potentially seismic that were so muted.

Arsenal brush off critics with ugly win over Brighton to keep title within reach

Brighton 0-1 Arsenal: Bukayo Saka’s strike proved the difference on a night where title rivals Manchester City were held by Nottingham Forest

A POTM-worthy display

Will Castle5 March 2026 00:00

Mikel Arteta praises his side for showing 'all of your qualities'

"When the other side is not as efficient as you want, we are playing a lot of games at a high intensity. When you are not at your best attacking, you have to show all of your qualities,” he told BBC Sport.

"It's a really difficult place to come and win. Every team that comes here suffers but we did what we had to do to win.

"We have some amazing supporters. The ones that travel with us every three days, it shows the passion. Thank you so much.

"We have two very different competitions in the next few days. We know that it will be a long run but we are on it."

Fabian Hurzeler fumes at Arsenal time-wasting

“We have to accept that decision,” Hurzeler told TNT Sports when asked about a Brighton penalty shout before half time that got waved away. “It’s more for me that he handles the other things better.

“In general, the Premier League needs to find a rule because that’s not for football what Arsenal did there. That was more the point I made to him.

“I think everyone saw it and everyone has to make their own opinion. I said it before the game and we shouldn’t use too many words about this and more focus about the performance. We did well tonight.

“Give more yellow cards for time-wasting. Do you see a goalkeeper going down three times in a game?”