Martin Odegaard stole the show as Arsenal head into the New Year with a seven-point buffer at the top of the Premier League after a 4-2 win over Brighton.
The Gunners looked dominant from start to finish as they swept the Seagulls aside to show their early-season form is anything but a fluke.
Bukayo Saka got the scoring underway with a strike after just 66 seconds – Arsenal’s earliest away goal in the Premier League since May 2013, when Theo Walcott netted after just 20 seconds against QPR.
Martin Odegaard made the lead much more comfortable towards the end of the first half with a well-taken effort, before Eddie Nketiah all-but secured the win with his second goal in two matches just two minutes into the second-half.
Brighton did strike back with goals from Kaoru Mitoma and Evan Ferguson, however it wasn’t enough to stop an evening of celebration for the Gunners as Gabriel Martinelli wrapped up the win.
A key part of Martinelli’s effort was a sublime pass from Odegaard in midfield, leading Gabby Agbonlahor to compare him to Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne, telling talkSPORT: “This is a statement victory for Arsenal.
“Odegaard’s assist for the fourth goal, if Kevin de Bruyne made that pass we wouldn’t stop going on about it.
“On current form I’d have Odegaard over De Bruyne. He’s absolutely outstanding.
Even former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara was forced to admit the class of his Arsenal team.
“The football they’re playing, Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli, it’s outstanding,” he added.
“It’s hard for me not to enjoy watching them play.”
As well as being a valuable three points against a strong Brighton team, Mikel Arteta’s side did well to capitalise on a day when results certainly went their way.
Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw by Everton at the Etihad Stadium, while third-place Newcastle were also held in a stalemate with Leeds on Tyneside.
That means Arsenal will start 2023 with a seven-point lead over City and a nine-point lead over the Magpies, having won 14 of their 16 fixtures so far.
While the Premier League title has to be a genuine target now, the Gunners will also be delighted to have a 13-point lead over arch rivals Spurs, who are currently fifth, meaning they sit in a very strong position to end their Champions League exile this time around.
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