Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League with a 2-1 win at home to Brighton on Saturday afternoon.
The Gunners were not at their best but did what they had to do to get ahead of Manchester City again after their win against Nottingham Forest earlier in the day.
There were highs and lows for Arsenal against Brighton, so read on for our take on each player’s performance…
Arsenal vs Brighton player ratings
David Raya – 8 – Raya was one of Arsenal’s heroes against Brighton, making the winning save in the second half against Yankuba Minte. A truly world-class Spanish shot-stopper who stepped up when the team needed him.
Declan Rice – 8.5 – Rice, removed from his right-back position, was in his usual fine form as he put in a tireless performance for the Gunners. The England international looked well-suited to the role, contributing defensively and attackingly, with his usual deadly set-piece resulting in an own goal in the second half.
William Saliba – 6 – William Saliba was not the most difficult match he has ever played. He and the rest of the defense didn’t have much work to do for most of the game, but they handled the ball with their usual calm and composure.
Clown Hincapie – 6.5 – While Hincapie has established himself and continues to develop, he also showed his versatility by moving to left-back following the arrival of Gabriel Magalhães late in the game.
Miles Lewis Skelly – 5.5 – Lewis-Skelly wasn’t in his best form, but was introduced into Mikel Arteta’s eleven until the final stages after Riccardo Calafioli was injured in the pre-match warm-up, and he may have played in a way he wasn’t expected to start the game.
Martin Zvimendi – 6 – Zvimendi’s performance was decent, but it was also a performance that perhaps showed that the Spain international has played too much football this season and is starting to get a little tired. Is it time for Arteta to trust Christian Norgaard a little more?
Mikel Merino – 5.5 – Far from being the best back with an impact in midfield, Merino continues to prove himself an enigmatic presence and often looks more suited to play up front at this Arsenal, even if that is not the position he was originally brought in to play.
Martin Odegaard – 8 – This was more like Martin Odegaard of old, with the Norwegian scoring the opening goal well and linking up with his team-mates with smooth, sharp passes.
Bukayozaka – 8 – A real threat throughout the game, Saka assisted Odegaard’s goal but was unlucky not to convert one or two more as he created so many chances for his teammates who misfired.
Leandro Trossard – 7 – A lively performance from Leandro Trossard, but ultimately didn’t add much to the final product.
Victor Gokeres – 4 – Perhaps the most worrying thing about this game for Arsenal was that Victor Gökeres played quietly once again. The Swedish striker missed one good chance, but otherwise struggled to get on the ball and complete basic passes, keeping him out of the game.
Substitute: Gabriel 6, Gabriel Jesus 6, Gabriel Martinelli 6
