By Adenike Lawal
Arsenal’s Premier League title bid suffered a setback as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium on January 4, 2025.
The result denied Mikel Arteta’s side a chance to close the gap on leaders Liverpool, who remain five points ahead after playing two more matches.
Seventeen-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, stepping in for the injured Bukayo Saka, gave Arsenal the lead in the first half, boosting their hopes of a fourth consecutive league win.
However, Brighton equalized just after the hour mark through Joao Pedro’s controversial penalty, awarded after a clash of heads with William Saliba.
The decision left Arteta visibly frustrated.
Arsenal remain second, trailing Liverpool, who face a struggling Manchester United next.
Meanwhile, Manchester City strengthened their position with a dominant 4-1 victory over West Ham United.
An own goal from Vladimir Coufal and strikes from Phil Foden and Erling Haaland—who now has 16 league goals, one behind Mohamed Salah—sealed City’s first back-to-back wins since October.
Despite the win, Pep Guardiola cautioned that City are still not at their best and dismissed suggestions that they have fully regained their dominant form.
