“On current form I’d have Martin Odegaard over Kevin De Bruyne.' Arsenal hailed for 'statement win' over Brighton as they go seven points clear at the top AFC
Martin Odegaard stole the show as Arsenal head into the New Year with a seven-point buffer at the top of the Premier League after a 4-2 win over Brighton.
The Gunners looked dominant from start to finish as they swept the Seagulls aside to show their early-season form is anything but a fluke.AdvertisementBukayo Saka got the scoring underway with a strike after just 66 seconds – Arsenal’s earliest away goal in the Premier League since May 2013, when Theo Walcott netted after just 20 seconds against QPR.
Martin Odegaard made the lead much more comfortable towards the end of the first half with a well-taken effort, before Eddie Nketiah all-but secured the win with his second goal in two matches just two minutes into the second-half.Brighton did strike back with goals from Kaoru Mitoma and Evan Ferguson, however it wasn’t enough to stop an evening of celebration for the Gunners as Gabriel Martinelli wrapped up the win.
A key part of Martinelli’s effort was a sublime pass from Odegaard in midfield, leading Gabby Agbonlahor to compare him to Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne, telling talkSPORT: “This is a statement victory for Arsenal. “Odegaard’s assist for the fourth goal, if Kevin de Bruyne made that pass we wouldn’t stop going on about it.