Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has insisted there is still a “long, long” way to go in the Premier League title race after the leaders ended the year seven points clear courtesy of a thrilling 4-2 win at Brighton.
Goals from Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Martinelli helped the Gunners tighten their stranglehold on the top spot going into 2023.
The visitors led 3-0 and 4-1 at the Amex Stadium but survived a nervous finish after a VAR intervention prevented the Seagulls from reducing the deficit to 4-3 with a minute to play.
A fifth consecutive top-flight success for the north London club meant they took full advantage of nearest rivals Manchester City and Newcastle being held to home draws earlier in the day.
Despite the healthy position, head coach Arteta, whose side hosts third-place Newcastle on Tuesday, said his squad were not getting carried away.
“It’s still a long, long run to go,” he said of the title race.
“My excitement comes when I go in the dressing room and the players are talking about what they should have done better today.
“And that means that they know that we can still play better and be better, and against Newcastle we have to be better.
“(It was a) big win, really happy, a really tough place to come.
“You don’t come to this place with this team and get a comfortable win, it doesn’t happen.”
Brighton head coach Roberto Zerbi described the six-goal thriller as “a strange game”.
“We suffered four goals in a strange way and at crucial moments, especially the first and last goals,” he said.
“But we played a good game against a fantastic team.
“I’m sad for the result, but not for the quality of our play, our attitude and our bravery.
“We closed the game with a lot of very young players, but I can’t say anything bad about them or the performance.
“We know Arsenal’s quality, they have fantastic players and a fantastic coach.”
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