{"id":503,"date":"2026-03-04T22:57:52","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T22:57:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ipsport.com.ng\/?p=503"},"modified":"2026-03-04T22:57:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T22:57:52","slug":"brighton-0-arsenal-1-a-key-night-in-the-premier-league-title-race-arsenal-win-as-man-city-draw","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ipsport.com.ng\/?p=503","title":{"rendered":"Brighton 0 Arsenal 1: A key night in the Premier League title race? Arsenal win as Man City draw"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Bukayo Saka\u2019s ninth-minute goal was the difference for Arsenal at Brighton, but it was events happening some 200 miles away in Manchester that could have the greater impact on who will be crowned this season\u2019s Premier League champions.<\/p>\n

As the clocked ticked past the hour mark, news of Nottingham Forest\u2019s equaliser against Manchester City trickled through to the Amex Stadium, and with it the realisation that Arsenal\u2019s lead at the top of the Premier League had stretched to seven points. Some five minutes later, City were ahead again and Arsenal were back to being five points in front. A second Forest equaliser, however, then brought the Arsenal fans out in song \u2014 and there were further celebrations at the final whistle.<\/p>\n

This was a difficult night for Mikel Arteta\u2019s side \u2014 stop-start and full of niggle, with only Saka\u2019s early strike to celebrate \u2014 but Arsenal came away with three very precious points. Crucially, with a trip to the Etihad to come in April and Manchester City having played one game fewer, the Premier League title race is back in Arsenal\u2019s hands.<\/p>\n

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James McNicholas dissects the key talking points on a very significant night\u2026<\/p>\n\n

A big step forward for Arsenal<\/b><\/h2>\n

Arsenal took another big step towards the Premier League title this evening. Not only did they come through a significant test at Brighton, but rivals Manchester City dropped two points at home to Nottingham Forest.<\/p>\n

This was not a particularly good Arsenal performance. In the first hour of the game, they struggled to live with Brighton\u2019s lively movement and man-to-man style. Arsenal looked heavy-legged and short on ideas in possession.<\/p>\n

Despite that, they showed the necessary maturity to manage the situation. Arteta\u2019s changes, introducing the likes of Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard, helped produce an improvement in performance. When Arsenal needed a breather to regroup and reorganise, David Raya just so happened to pick up a shoulder injury.<\/p>\n

That has been the difference for Arsenal this year: when they have been below their best, they have frequently found a way to grind out a result. Meanwhile, at the Etihad, Manchester City twice let a lead slip against relegation-battling Nottingham Forest.<\/p>\n

It means Arsenal\u2019s lead is now extended to seven points. Manchester City may have a game in hand, but time is running out for them to reel in the front-runners.<\/p>\n\n

Bukayo Saka scores on 300th Arsenal appearance<\/h2>\n

Only three players in Arsenal\u2019s history have reached 300 appearances at a younger age than Saka, who turned 24 last September: Liam Brady (24 years, 73 days), Cesc Fabregas (23 years, 341 days), and David O\u2019Leary (23 years, 315 days).<\/p>\n

While Bart Verbruggen will have been disappointed to allow Saka\u2019s deflected strike to go through his legs, the Arsenal player was rewarded for seizing the initiative and taking the shot on.<\/p>\n

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\n Bukayo Saka celebrates with Cristhian Mosquera (Mike Hewitt\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

This was the 79th goal of Saka\u2019s 300 appearances. With 69 assists to his name, he has racked up a total of 148 goal contributions. Saka provides a goal or assist virtually every other game.<\/p>\n

After a goalless run at the start of 2026, Saka has now scored twice in his last four Premier League appearances. Arsenal will hope that\u2019s indicative of an upturn in form heading into the run-in.<\/p>\n\n

A nervy night for Arteta\u2019s men<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It was another nail-biting 90 minutes for Arsenal fans at Brighton.<\/p>\n

Arsenal came into this game off the back of two London derbies against Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea. On the evidence of this evening, those games took a good deal out of the squad \u2014 Arteta\u2019s men looked weary and were frequently second to the ball.<\/p>\n

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\"Mikel<\/p>\n
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\n Mikel Arteta directs his squad during a break in play (Adam Davy\/PA Images via Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

In the second half, Arsenal settled somewhat, and there were a couple of opportunities for them to extend their lead. Neither Trossard nor Havertz could convert, however, so Arsenal were left holding on to their slender advantage.<\/p>\n

The fact that there were seven minutes added on at both Brighton and the Etihad made for a particularly nervy final few minutes.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, however, Arsenal got over the line \u2014 and City stumbled. This was a great night for Arsenal, with an excellent evening for their fans topped off by West Ham\u2019s win at Fulham, further deepening relegation concerns for neighbours Tottenham.<\/p>\n\n

Playing it safe at the back<\/b><\/h2>\n

Mikel Arteta took the unusual decision to remove a centre-half with half an hour still to play.<\/p>\n

Mosquera, who started in place of the injured William Saliba, was living dangerously, having picked up a first-half booking. After Yankuba Minteh showed he had the beating of Mosquera on the left flank, Arteta wasted little time before substituting the 21-year-old, with Riccardo Calafiori coming on as his replacement.<\/p>\n

This was an appropriate use of Arsenal\u2019s depth. Mosquera has been very composed this season, but on a testing night, Arteta could not afford to risk the possibility of going down to 10 men.<\/p>\n

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\"Arsenal<\/p>\n
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\n Arsenal could not risk going down to 10 men with the game finely poised (Shaun Brooks\/CameraSport via Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The Arsenal manager told the media before kick-off that Saliba had picked up an injury against Chelsea.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe turned his ankle,\u201d Arteta told TNT Sports. \u201cHe managed to finish the game somehow, but he was too sore to play today.\u201d<\/p>\n

There will be no huge rush to have Saliba back. Arteta should have more than enough defensive cover for the FA Cup trip to Mansfield Town this weekend.<\/p>\n\n

What did they say?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Saka told TNT Sports: \u201cThis feels like a massive win definitely for us. Obviously on the pitch we didn\u2019t know the score but we heard the fans celebrating, out of nowhere, so I kind of knew in my head that something went well in the other games. But we focus on here, got the result done and feel good about it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very tight (in the Premier League title race) and it\u2019s been like that for the last few years. Tonight, especially, both playing at the same time, we both needed to win, massive games. We did and they didn\u2019t so we can be happy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis game was quite ugly for us, we didn\u2019t play our best. But it\u2019s about getting results sometimes and that\u2019s what we did tonight and for us that\u2019s massive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

What next for Arsenal?<\/h2>\n

Saturday, March 7:<\/strong> Mansfield Town (Away), FA Cup fifth round, 12.15pm UK, 7.15am ET<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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