[ad_1]
Substitute Alexandre Lacazette made an instant impact as Arsenal continued their resurgence with a 1-0 win that extended Brighton’s miserable home record.
FULL MATCH DETAILS
Lacazette, who dropped to the bench to accommodate so-called captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, coldly took the second-half winner just 21 seconds after replacing Gabriel Martinelli.
The Frenchman’s decisive goal in the 66th minute turned the Gunners to consecutive victories to take them nine points out of the relegation zone and further ease mounting pressure on head coach Mikel Arteta.
Beleaguered Brighton remains just two points from the drop zone after failing to end its long wait for victory at Amex Stadium.
Las Gaviotas, who lacked a cutting edge throughout, end 2020 with a lone home win of 17 top-flight matches and with a lot of work to do in the new year.
Arsenal came to the South Coast as the only team to lose a league game here in the past 12 months following a 2-1 setback in June, but fueled by a beaten 3-1 Boxing Day win over Chelsea. .
Gunners boss Arteta opted for consistency by making a single change in the starting XI that ended his team’s seven-game winless streak over the weekend, recalling captain Aubameyang after a recent problem in the calf instead of Lacazette.
Brighton, which doubled over its north London opponents last season, chose to freshen things up after Sunday’s 2-2 draw at West Ham.
Graham Potter’s six alterations left the hosts without a recognized striker and a starting team that had contributed a combined total of just five league goals this season.
With both clubs struggling to find the net regularly, it was perhaps not surprising that there was a lack of killer instinct on both ends during a forgettable first half dominated by a plethora of clean passes.
Alireza Jahanbakhsh’s shot in the 37th minute, which brought a routine save by Bernd Leno, was the game’s first goal attempt, while Gunners midfielder Granit Xhaka had failed to replicate the sublime free kick he scored against him. Frank Lampard’s team three days ago.
Albion had been the most adventurous team in the first half, but was in serious danger of being left behind early in the second when Arsenal finally threatened.
Aubameyang blew a golden opportunity when he deflected a Bukayo Saka cross from the left to Seagulls goalkeeper Robert Sanchez from the edge of the six-yard box before Martinelli narrowly fired a shot.
Gunners goalkeeper Leno, who suffered a season-ending injury here six months ago, denied Davy Propper a goal in his first Premier League appearance of the season, before the visitors were rewarded for his best performance in the second half with what turned out to be the winner. .
England international Saka stormed down the right flank and threw the ball back, allowing Lacazette to clinically find the bottom right corner and score for the third consecutive game in all competitions.
Arsenal had not won a league game at Brighton since a 1-0 win in April 1981.
The Seagulls pounced on Neal Maupay and Leandro Trossard in search of a leveler, but they never seemed to preserve that long undefeated record as their current troubles continued.
[ad_2]