Martin Odegaard netted his first goal of the season, leading Arsenal to a 2-1 victory over Brighton and allowing them to reclaim the top position in the Premier League.
However, it was the goalkeeper who delivered the standout moment of the match.
With Arsenal clinging to a narrow 2-1 lead in the final 15 minutes at the tense Emirates Stadium, Brighton substitute Yankuba Minteh unleashed a stunning curling shot from the edge of the box that seemed destined for the top corner.
The Spanish goalkeeper made an extraordinary athletic save, tipping the ball over the bar and preventing Brighton from equalizing.
“It was sensational,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told Sky Sports. “I had a great view of it. That’s the kind of performance we need from our players in crucial moments.”
Former England captain Alan Shearer, serving as a pundit for Match of the Day, called the save “one of the best you’ll see all season.”
“You could see all the Arsenal players rushing to thank Raya for that crucial save at such an important point in the game,” former Republic of Ireland midfielder Andy Reid shared with reporters.
Arsenal controlled much of the match, taking 15 shots while restricting Brighton to none in the first half.
Arteta remarked that the “margin should have been much larger” and that “it should never have been 2-1” given the number of chances the Gunners created.
“That turned out to be much more challenging for Arsenal than it should have been,” Shearer added.
“In the first half, they had significant success against both Brighton wing-backs, with Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard causing all sorts of problems.
Brighton made tactical changes at halftime with a double substitution, and once they scored, Arsenal found themselves under unexpected pressure.”
Arsenal’s win over Brighton felt reminiscent of several matches they’ve played this season.
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The Gunners dominated possession, squandered opportunities, and faced injuries to key players—challenges that have tested their squad since the season began, with forward Kai Havertz sidelined due to a knee injury.
On Saturday, Arsenal was without the injured Jurrien Timber and lost Riccardo Calafiori during the warm-up, forcing left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly to step in on short notice.
However, there was some positive news as center-back Gabriel returned as a substitute in the second half following his injury absence.
Arteta stated that his team has been “managing” the challenges for six months and that the injuries to key players are “bringing the squad together.”
“So far, we’ve survived six months; let’s see how it goes, with another five and a half to go. Hopefully, things will improve,” he said.
“The good news is that we have Gabi Gabriel back earlier than expected, which is fantastic.”
