A Laca-Saka cracker! What we learned from the victory over Brighton

A Laca-Saka cracker! What we learned from Arsenal's 1-0 victory over Brighton in the Premier League 

By Adam Le Roux

What a difference a week makes. Remember when we were talking about having a relegation scrap on our hands and we didn’t know where the next Arsenal goal would come from, let alone a win?

After two victories in four days the mood is slowly starting to lift around the Emirates, and as we make the move into the new year, you could almost be forgiven for starting to feel optimistic heading into 2021. 

The clash with Brighton was hardly a classic, with the Seagulls giving as good as they got, with their profligacy in front of goal costing them the chance of taking something from the game. 

It was hardly a dominant Arsenal performance either, but in this game you have to take your chances, and that is exactly what Alexandre Lacazette did just 21 seconds after taking to the field, as the Frenchman fired in the winner midway through the second-half. 

With back-to-back victories for the first time since September it would be easy to get carried away, with talk about a top-six finish already starting once again, but Arsenal fans will know there is always a surprise lurking around the corner. 

There were a few things that came to light when Arsenal travelled to the Amex, with one member of the opposition catching the eye more than most. 

Bissouma looks the business 

Make no bones about it, Brighton were a tough nut to crack on Tuesday night, with Graham Potter’s side pressuring and hounding Arsenal all over the pitch. 

But one player caught the eye more than most, and that is the man that has been subject to a lot of transfer speculation in recent weeks – Yves Bissouma. 

The Malian looked majestic as the anchor of the hosts’ midfield, as he patrolled the middle of the park while looking unflustered when in possession, despite the attention of a number of Arsenal players at some points. 

With Thomas Partey’s injury woes continuing, and the need for another dominant destroyer in the engine room, it is no surprise after Tuesday’s showing that Bissouma is in the running to make a move to a club in the higher reaches of the Premier League. 

The Gunners need to act fast and act now if they are going to get their hands on the 24-year-old, who would no doubt strengthen their resolve through the spine of the team, and give the frontline licence to roam forward. 

Laca scores a whacker with a little help from Saka

It’s in matches such as these where the players with that extra bit of determination and quality rise to the fore, and in Bukayo Saka and Alexandre Lacazette, Arsenal had two that conjured up the moment of magic to decide the game. 

With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang still firing blanks with a blunt performance at the forefront of the Gunners’ attack, Mikel Arteta has had to rely on alternative options to find a way to goal of late. 

And it was two of the heroes from the Boxing Day victory that combined again at the Amex, as Saka tore away from Dan Burn down the right flank, before finding the Frenchman, who coolly fired home to make it three goals in as many games. 

The 19-year-old continues to impress week after week, and with the emergence of Emile Smith-Rowe and the return of Gabriel Martinelli to the squad, the younger, hungrier Arsenal side look capable of changing their recent miserable fortunes. 

Smith-Rowe looked a menace once again during his time on the pitch, with his effervescence causing Brighton all manner of issues, and looks to have forced his way into Mikel Arteta’s future plans with his promising performances. 

The only negative from the action was the injury sustained by Saka late in the game, which forced the England International to limp off the pitch with ten minutes remaining. 

But Arteta was adamant that the teenager wont be ruled out for long with the knock, which will come as a relief for Arsenal fans, with the academy graduate the brightest spark of a tumultuous season so far. 

Let’s not get carried away

Yes it may be two wins from two, and fourth spot is just as close as the bottom three, but there is still plenty to sort out at the club before any hopes of a foray up the Premier League table is a reality. 

In truth, Brighton should have got something from the game, and will be kicking themselves that they didn’t take any of the chances that came their way during the 90 minutes. 

Another team may have taken those opportunities and it would have been a different story, so Arsenal can’t start resting on their laurels after a couple of wins. Because that’s when you get burned in the English game. 

Aubameyang still looks a shadow of the player from last season up front, and when your star striker isn’t firing, it will always be a difficult task claim victories week after week. 

In theory, the fixture list looks kind for the Gunners heading into the new year, with West Brom, Crystal Palace and Newcastle all coming up in the next few weeks, but after numerous false dawns in the past, there won’t be many Arsenal fans getting carried away anytime soon.

Photo Credit: Getty Images