Brighton 0-1 Arsenal: Player ratings as Alexandre Lacazette strike earns Gunners victory

From the AMEX - Alexander Lacazette came off the bench to score within seconds of his introduction to gift Arsenal a 1-0 win, their second Premier League victory in a row, at the expense of a toothless Brighton on Tuesday night.

The Seagulls dominated possession during the first half and carved out decent openings for Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Dan Burn, but their lack of efficiency in the final third again came back to bite them as the Gunners stole the win in the second half.

Bukayo Saka breezed past Burn on the right to tee up Lacazette, who fired in at the near post past goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to take Arsenal up to 13th. Brighton drop to 17th with relegation fears starting to grow.

BRIGHTON

1. Goalkeeper & Defenders

Robert Sanchez (GK) - 5/10 - Made a big stop to deny Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Powerless to prevent the goal.

Joel Veltman (RB) - 6/10 - Martinelli's movement often had the former Ajax man scrambling, though he was never caught out by any pinpoint passes, mainly because there many to deal with.

Adam Webster (CB) - 6/10 - Pretty comfortable bringing the ball forward to help Brighton create overlaps.

Lewis Dunk (CB) - 5/10 - Booked just before the hour mark. Got caught out and fell on his bum for Lacazette's strike.

Dan Burn (LB) - 5/10 - Towered over Bukayo Saka literally, though their battle was one he came off worse in. Got skinned on the wing by his opposite number for the game's only goal.

2. Midfielders

Davy Propper (RM) - 5/10 - A first league start of the season for the Netherlands international. Made some decent runs but largely anonymous and subbed off for Solly March.

Yves Bissouma (CM) - 7/10 - Very easy to watch with the ball at his feet and never far away whenever a loose ball was there to be claimed. Brighton's best player.

Pascal Gross (CM) - 5/10 - Couldn't assert himself defensively and didn't conjure up any good service for those ahead of him.

Bernardo (LM) - 6/10 - Like Propper, a first league start of the season. Willing runner down the left but could have given Burn more protection against the dangerous Saka. Was dominant in the air, mind.

3. Forwards

Alireza Jahanbakhsh (ST) - 5/10 - Had some good opportunities, drawing a save from Bernd Leno towards the end of the first half. Dribbled his way out of a few tight holes. Really cynical foul saw him booked and he was hooked soon after.

Alexis Mac Allister (ST) - 5/10 - Isn't a striker by trade so his lack of movement gave Brighton's midfielders little to aim for. Couldn't provide anything magical like the equaliser at Crystal Palace.

4. Substitutes

Neal Maupay - 4/10

Solly March - 5/10

Leandro Trossard - 5/10

ARSENAL

5. Goalkeeper & Defenders

Bernd Leno (GK) - 6/10 - Got down quickly to stop Jahanbakhsh's powerful strike. Wasn't overly tested but did what was needed to stop the hosts scoring.

Hector Bellerin (RB) - 6/10 - Was marking Burn from corners at one point, which shows he's not short on confidence. A good outlet down the right.

Rob Holding (CB) - 7/10 - Arsenal's primary voice in defence, always barking orders to his colleagues. Brighton's strikers often played in front of him so he was rarely made to look uncomfortable.

Pablo Mari (CB) - 7/10 - Good in the air and one of Arsenal's more reliable passers. A centre back spot is there for Mari for the taking, though Gabriel may come into the fold when he recovers from coronavirus.

Kieran Tierney (LB) - 6/10 - A solid enough performance from the Scot. Did all his defensive work diligently.

6. Midfielders

Granit Xhaka (CM) - 6/10 - Didn't offer anything composed in possession and got torn a new one by Jahanbakhsh on the wing during a poor first half. Helped Arsenal assert themselves more in the second period. A classic tale of two halves for the Switzerland international - poor in the first, pretty decent in the second.

Mohamed Elneny (CM) - 5/10 - Far too pedestrian and didn't offer anything defensively. Couldn't pass Arsenal into any good positions. The Gunners need Thomas Partey back fit as soon as possible.

Bukayo Saka (RM) - 8/10 - Always looked bright and burned past Burn to set up Lacazette's opener. Arsenal's most exciting attacking player at the moment and that moment of quality ended up deciding the game.

Emile Smith Rowe (AM) - 7/10 - Often starved of the ball in the first half but had more service in the second and looked dangerous. Some twinkle-toed dribbling set up chances for both Aubameyang and Martinelli.

Gabriel Martinelli (LM) - 6/10 - Fired just over in the second half from Smith Rowe's aforementioned good work. Substituted for Alexandre Lacazette after a largely subdued evening.

7. Forward

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ST) - 6/10 - Got his first taste of the action at the start of the second half, drawing Sanchez into a point-blank save. Could have done better in a few positions but it was to be expected in his first game in a couple of weeks.

8. Substitutes

Alexandre Lacazette - 7/10 - Scored within moments of coming on, providing a desperately needed moment of quality to sweep home from Saka's cutback.

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