FA Premier League 

ARSENAL 2 (Jesus 53, Havertz 87)

BRIGHTON 0 

They huffed and puffed and, eventually, Arsenal blew the Brighton house down.

It was – once again – not the most convincing performance, but the Gunners keep on racking up the points.

Goals from Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz ensure a winning comeback after disappointment against Villa – and before massive top of the table clash at Anfield on Saturday.

Declan Rice put in a flawless performance that was notable not for his well timed interceptions and powerful tackles, but his calm and controlled runs with the ball.

He seems to swivel past players with such ease, without any fancy tricks or big movements.

Manager Arteta was booked again for dissent after another row with the referee – his fourth card of the season.

After the match, he said:  “It was a joy to watch from the start to the end.

“The players generated so much, especially in the first half. We fully deserved to win the game.

“When we don’t have that accuracy to score like that you have to find another way.”

The first half had been an exhibition in profligacy with Arsenal posting 15 shots with just three on target.

Good chances were blown over the bar or smashed straight down the middle.

Anyone watching this would see what a difference an imposing striker would make.

Rumours are circulating that Ivan Toney could be coming to join the Gunners party this Christmas.

The build up play had been exceptional with Ben White, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka causing havoc down the right side.

The Arsenal caption kept the tempo high while Saka always seems to make the right decisions – either cutting-in to set up the left foot shot, pass back and start again, or race down the line for the cut back.

Brighton had fielded James Milner at left back and the old warhorse was given a torrid time in the first half from Saka.

But despite the heavy pressure against a tired looking opponents there was no breakthrough until Jesus found himself with an open goal to aim at.

He gleefully headed in at the back post after a fortuitous flick fell his way from a corner.

Arsenal actually looked like the would most likely score from corners, and seem to have an ever evolving array of unusual set piece routines.

Brighton, coming off a grueling test in the Europa League, did not register a single shot in first half.

But still David Raya managed to look a little shaky.

You can sense the nervousness when he comes for the ball. His distribution was once again pretty poor.

Once again Arsenal dominated the game from start to finish but failed to seal the points until late on.

Nervousness was creeping in when Pascal Gross missed a golden chance.

The ball was flashed across the face by Mitoma, but the first time shot whistled past Raya’s near post.

There was a moment of light relief when Lewis Dunk took a powerful Odegaard shot square in the balls.

Half the stadium winced.  But the lanky defender staggered back to his feet and pulled off a goal line clearance.

Odegaard had a shot palmed out of top corner and Havertz headed a golden chance over the bar.

But the big man in midfield got the winner in the end.

He raced onto a Eddie Nketiah through ball and found the bottom corner, although the keeper should probably have kept it out.

Arsenal travel to Liverpool on Saturday in a top of the table super clash for the Christmas number 1 spot.

Strangely given the league positions, neither of the top two are looking imperious.

Brighton: Verbruggen, Veltman (Hinshelwood 27), van Hecke, Dunk, Milner (Paul 60), Gross, Gilmour, Adingra (Welbeck 79), Mitoma, Ferguson (Pedroat 60)  
Subs not used: Pedro, Moder, Baleba, Steele, Buonanotte,