hen Mikel Arteta makes his New Yr’s resolutions, he’ll merely be asking for extra of the identical from Arsenal in 2023.
His aspect mentioned goodbye to 2022 in model, beating Brighton 4-2 to complete the yr seven factors away from Manchester Metropolis on the high of the Premier League.
Few individuals, maybe even Arteta himself, might have imaged 12 months in the past that Arsenal can be on this place.
However there will be no denying that the Gunners are real title contenders.
In the event that they hold doing what they’re doing, then 2023 could possibly be the yr Arsenal win the Premier League for the primary time since 2004.
The omens are good. In 9 of the final 13 seasons the workforce high of the desk on New Yr’s Day has gone on to be topped champions.
There may be, after all, nonetheless a protracted solution to go however this victory at Brighton was a reminder of why Arsenal will take some stopping.
Brighton have been a bogey workforce for Arteta and Arsenal. Till this win, they’d gained simply one in all their previous 5 Premier League journeys right here.
A document like that made you suppose this could be a tricky task for Arsenal, however Bukayo Saka’s objective after simply 66 seconds was the proper begin.
It was a slick objective – Arsenal’s quickest away from dwelling within the Premier League since 2013 – and one which underlined what has been key to the success of the workforce below Arteta.
Brighton right-back Tariq Lamptey tried to drive the ball out of defence however he was tackled by Thomas Partey.
Arsenal shortly pounced, with Oleksandr Zinchenko spraying the ball out left to Gabriel Martinelli. The Brazilian’s shot was blocked however Saka was there to faucet dwelling.
That potential to press and win the ball excessive has made Arsenal so harmful away from dwelling.
Defensively they had been suspect at occasions right here, with William Saliba wanting significantly rusty after barely taking part in for France on the World Cup.
However going ahead Arsenal had been at occasions unstoppable.
Martin Odegaard was on the coronary heart of Arsenal’s good attacking play and his fingerprints had been throughout their targets.
The Norwegian scored the second with a superb strike from the sting of the field, however his greatest second got here when he created the fourth.
Arsenal ought to have been dwelling and dry by then, with Eddie Nketiah scoring their third shortly after the beginning of the second half.
Karou Mitoma had given Brighton hope, although, when he scored within the sixty fifth minute and it was left to Odegaard to silence the Amex.
He did that with an beautiful move, hit first time, that discovered Martinelli large out left and allowed him to race clear and rating.
It put Arsenal 4-1 up and even a objective from Evan Ferguson, and a disallowed strike by Mitoma, couldn’t shake Arsenal as they claimed one other vial three factors due to their sensible assault.
However even with seven targets of their final two video games because the Premier League resumed after the World Cup, Arsenal need to add extra firepower to their squad.
Their high goal is Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk, who as soon as once more posting on social media to indicate the world he was watching Arsenal beat Brighton.
Who can blame him for wanting to affix Arsenal’s title cost, though on this proof he would face a battle to get within the workforce.
