Arsenal’s hopes of narrowing the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool took a blow on Saturday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton at the American Express Community Stadium. The result leaves Mikel Arteta’s side five points behind Liverpool, who are in top form, having played two more games.
Arsenal came into the match on the back of a strong run, looking for a fourth consecutive league win. They made a positive start, with 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri stepping in for the injured Bukayo Saka and putting Arsenal ahead in the first half.
However, their momentum was disrupted early in the second half when a clash of heads between Brighton’s Joao Pedro and Arsenal’s William Saliba led to a penalty for the home side. Pedro calmly converted the spot-kick to equalize.
The draw was a frustrating result for Arteta, who was visibly upset by the penalty decision. “I’m very pleased with how the team played but the result is frustrating,” Arteta said after the game. The draw means Arsenal remains in second place but will be disappointed to have missed the opportunity to close the gap on Liverpool, who are in strong form.
Elsewhere in the Premier League, Manchester City bounced back from a tough start to the season with a 4-1 win over West Ham. Erling Haaland was once again the star, scoring twice, while Vladimir Coufal’s own goal and Phil Foden’s strike completed the win.
Despite the victory, City manager Pep Guardiola downplayed the significance, saying, “You cannot ask me if the old City is back. We’re not.”
Newcastle continued their excellent run, defeating Tottenham 2-1, leaving Spurs struggling in mid-table. Chelsea, on the other hand, are in a slump, failing to win in four matches after a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace. Aston Villa and Brentford both picked up important wins, with Villa overcoming Leicester 2-1 and Brentford smashing Southampton 5-0.
