Ødegaard’s strike and Raya’s wonder save help steer Arsenal past Brighton

A few minutes before half-time in a contest that swung entirely one way and then briefly the other, Brighton threatened what was then a rare foray into Arsenal territory. For the briefest of moments, the visitors seemed certain to muster their first shot of an afternoon that had hitherto been miserable.No sooner had Maxim De Cuyper received the ball on the counterattack and glanced up, than the Belgian was flattened by a crunching Declan Rice tackle that hastily restored possession for the hosts. De Cuyper slumped, while Rice towered over him and roared; arguably this season’s standout Premier League midfielder making light of playing right-back for the first time in his Arsenal career. Continue reading...