LONDON –

Injuries at the back, misfiring in attack and three points in the bag. Don’t you hate it when they pad out the schedules with reruns over Christmas?

Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Brighton was typical of previous results this season, with the three points gained against Wolves, Everton, and arguably even Brentford. Despite dominating play, Arsenal struggled to secure a definitive victory. It is rare for any team to unleash 24 shots against their opponent while allowing 19 and still find themselves in a nail-biting finish.

The team has scored five actual goals (with three own goals gifted) during December from 9.63 expected goals (xG). Arsenal, who usually compete fiercely for titles, are unlikely to maintain this form for long.

Arteta pointed out the shooting troubles the players have encountered lately. “The margin should have been much bigger,” he stated. “The number of situations and chances we created through the game, it should never end at 2-1, but that’s how the Premier League is. David [Raya] had to make crucial saves late in the match to help us keep the win.”

What matters more than spirit is performance, and Arsenal did play well overall, especially in the first half. Arsenal dominated Brighton’s attack while creating numerous opportunities themselves.

Martin Odegaard was back to his best, showing remarkable composure to score the opener. Even with some nerves creeping in for the fans, Arsenal pushed forward with a vigor that was missing in prior matches against Wolves. However, some players like Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka failed to capitalize on close-range chances.

In the end, Arsenal stayed afloat amidst their injury challenges, taking 12 points from a possible 15 in their last matches. With Manchester City pressing closely behind them, Arsenal’s strong performances remain vital for their title hopes.

Arteta remains optimistic, mentioning that with the return of key players, they hope to enhance their match performances moving forward.