Arsenal master the dark arts again to take massive step towards Premier League title

They have become the pantomime villains of the Premier League.Arsenal are the team everyone loves to hate.

But somehow - through sheer grit and determination - they ground out another hard fought win to strengthen their grip at the top of the Premier League table.

It was ugly, scrappy and yet Arsenal left the stage at the AmEx to rounds of jeers and boos - but also with a precious three points to push them seven clear at the top after Manchester City slipped up.

No wonder Arsenal’s players celebrated with the travelling fans at the end because this felt like a huge night in the title race as the pendulum swung firmly in their favour with just eight games left.

Bukayo Saka’s ninth minute goal was all that it needed as Arsenal held on and clung on for a precious victory. They were wind-up merchants as they did not care about running down the clock, playing for tactical fouls and using all the dark arts.

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But it was enough to get the job done even if is not very easy on the eye to say the least and quite how Brighton failed to score is anyone’s guess but also testament to Arsenal’s resilience. Gabriel was a man mountain in the Arsenal defence while Piero Hincapie also scrapped and fought for every ball. It was that sort of game.

The title race has been nip-and-tuck between Arsenal and City and it has been rare for them to actually kick off on the same day and at the same time.

Incredibly, this was the last trip out of London for Arsenal in the Premier League for the rest of the season other than next month’s potential title crunch at City. Arsenal also play before City in their next three match rounds so it will be a test of their title mettle in the gripping head-to-head.

It certainly felt like a tougher test for Arteta’s men with their trip to Brighton - and they started like a team who looked nervous as they knew it was a big night for their title ambitions.

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Gunners keeper David Raya’s sloppy pass out from the back went straight to Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba who had a clear run on goal. Baleba chipped the ball over Raya and Gabriel heroically tracked back to head off the line. It was a huge let-off.

Arsenal then got a very lucky break before going ahead. Brighton screamed for a handball against Piero Hincapie which was not given. Arsenal played on and there was 15 seconds between that offence and the visitor’s opening goal. It is questionable whether VAR would pull the play back.

Jurrien Timber fed the ball wide to Bukayo Saka and his shot took a horrible deflection off Baleba which wrong footed Bart Verbruggen but the Brighton keeper still should have done better.

Arsenal still looked edgy. Cristhian Mosquera was in for the injured William Saliba and he gave the ball away before being booked for a foul on Georginio Rutter. Gabriel bailed Arsenal out again with a last-ditch tackle on Karou Mitoma.

Arsenal were second best and up against it. Brighton got increasingly frustrated as the fans jeered every decision, screamed at Arsenal’s time-wasting and tactical fouls.

Arteta’s men have become so unpopular with every other set of fans. Brighton had big chances as Yankubah Minteh cut inside the box and somehow his low cross did not end up in the net.

Rutter forced a great save at full stretch from Raya. Mats Wiefer and Jack Hinshelwood both missed headed chances. Incredibly, Arsenal - the set-piece kings - did not win their first corner until the 63rd minute. They created very little.

Arsenal’s former Brighton forward Leandro Trossard had one big chance after coming on but steered his effort well wide to the delight of the home fans.

The visitors threw on Kai Havertz who at least gave them more quality up front than Viktor Gyokeres. Havertz’s best effort forced a good near post save from Verbruggen.

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