Arsenal took advantage of another misstep from Manchester City on Saturday to widen the gap at the top of the Premier League, now seven points clear of the defending champions.
The Gunners beat Brighton at home (4-2) while Manchester City stumbled over Everton (1-1) at home on Matchday 18.
Galvanized by the poor result of their main rival which had reached them half an hour earlier, Mikel Arteta's players stifled Brighton from the start and very quickly scored.
After an interception from Partey, Martinelli tried his luck and saw his blocked ball land at the feet of his teammate Bukayo Saka, in an ideal position (2nd, 0-1).
Confident and in perfect control, the Londoners scored shortly before the break on a ball poorly cleared by the Brighton defense from which Martin Odegaard took full advantage (39th, 0-2).
With cold realism, they dug the score from the start of the second period, thanks to an overflow from Martinelli which benefited Eddie Nketiah (47th, 0-3).
Gabriel Martinelli scored a fourth goal against one (71st), shortly after the score was reduced by Kaoru Mitoma (65th), and before the second goal of the "Seagulls" by Evan Ferguson (77th).
The Gunners end the year in a strong position, seven points clear of the defending champions.
The month of January will be crucial for the men of Mikel Arteta in their quest for the title: reception of Newcastle (January 3), trip to Tottenham (January 15) and reception of Manchester United (January 22).
“It's an important victory against a good team.
We know the other results but above all, we know that success will come from what we do ”on the ground, reacted Arteta after the meeting.
At City, Guardiola uninspired
Already borrowed from Leeds on Wednesday, despite a clear victory (3-1), the Citizens suffered from unresponsive management by Pep Guardiola against Everton (1-1).
The Catalan, who had lined up ten of the eleven starters in the match played three days earlier, waited until the 87th minute to make his first changes (Foden, Alvarez and Gündogan), while Demarai Gray had taken advantage of Akanji's passivity to equalize (64th, 1-1).
In the first half, Erling Haaland - who else?
- opened the scoring and scored his 27th club goal of the season in all competitions.
These two points lost against the 16th in the standings recall the poor performance in the previous league match at the Etihad Stadium against Brentford (1-2, November 12).
Here too, despite the Premier League's largest bench, Guardiola waited until the 86th minute to make his first change, without avoiding a defeat which had already cost a lot.
Guardiola wanted to stay positive after the match: “Losing points at home is always difficult.
But we have played really well in the last three games and that makes me optimistic.
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The Citizens will have no room for error during their next trip to Chelsea on Thursday.
Manchester United in the Top 4
The lack of pure attacking talent - and potential need during the winter transfer window - was quite evident in Newcastle's side against Leeds, with a goalless goalless draw (0-0) ending a run of six consecutive league wins .
For their part, the Mancunians won their fifth straight victory in Wolverhampton (1-0), in all competitions, which allows them to be part of the Top 4 for the first time this season, two points ahead of Tottenham.
Newcastle's poor performance virtually gives them the opportunity to move into third place, thanks to their late game.
Without being really superior to their opponent, who is struggling to maintain and remains 18th after this meeting, Erik ten Hag's players were above all able to count on the precision of Marcus Rashford, scorer in the 76th minute after being left on the bench in the first half for disciplinary reasons.
The English striker had indeed arrived late for a meeting with his teammates, after having, according to his admission, woke up too late.
“We knew Rashy could score, and he did,” said his coach.
Continuation and end of this 18th day on Sunday, with Tottenham - Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest - Chelsea.
