A second-half wonder-save from David Raya helped Arsenal hold off a Brighton fightback to return to the top of the Premier League table with a 2-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium.
Manchester City’s earlier win over Nottingham Forest meant the Gunners needed to win to go back above them but they were made to work for the points despite dominating most of the encounter.
Martin Odegaard opened the scoring with a low shot from outside the box in the 14th minute for his first goal of the season, but Arsenal needed their fourth own goal in as many games, from Georginio Rutter, to double their lead after spurning chances. 
Their wastefulness was nearly punished after Diego Gomez buried a rebound midway through the second half, with goalkeeper Raya thenh required to make his sensational full-stretch save to deny Brighton substitute Yankubah Minteh an equaliser.
Arsenal racked up 24 shots in total and yet the game was ultimately decided by another own goal, with Rutter flicking Declan Rice’s corner beyond Bart Verbruggen at the near post
Arsenal’s preparations were once again disrupted by injuries, with Jurrien Timber’s absence meaning Rice had to fill in at right-back, and Riccardo Calafiori having to be replaced in the line-up by Myles Lewis-Skelly after feeling an issue in the warm-up.
Despite that upheaval, they didn’t allow Brighton a single shot in the first half, although their lack of cutting edge left the game open, with Brighton’s goal causing nervousness among the home fans as Mikel Arteta turned to the returning Gabriel Magalhaes from the bench to help them see out the game.
The victory, although harder work than it should have been, ensures Arsenal reopen their two-point lead at the Premier League summit, while Brighton slip to 12th, now winless in five games.
