A stylish Arsenal moved back into pole position in the Premier League title race after beating Brighton, a victory that saw them leapfrog Liverpool and Manchester City.

Just hours after City had swatted Crystal Palace aside at Selhurst Park, the pressure was once again on Mikel Arteta’s contenders to respond on the south coast.

An ice-cool first-half penalty from Bukayo Saka, awarded after Tariq Lamptey’s dangling leg caught Gabriel Jesus, handed the visitors the lead at the interval.

They then doubled their advantage through Kai Havertz’s poacher’s finish shortly after the hour mark, before Leandro Trossard netted against his former club.

Here, Mail Sport’s AADAM PATEL has rated the players…

ARSENAL (4-3-3)

DAVID RAYA 7

Great save to deny Julio Enciso after 44 minutes. Neat passing from the back, too.

BEN WHITE 6.5

Was involved in a couple of heated battles with his old club but kept his cool and defended well.

WILLIAM SALIBA 7.5

A calm presence at the back. In the right positions when required.

GABRIEL 7

Put his defensive partner Saliba in danger a couple of times. Had a couple of great first-half headed chances from corners.

OLEKSANDR ZINCHENKO 6.5

Was more cautious in defence than usual which paid off.

MARTIN ODEGAARD 7

Had a shot after 54 minutes go over the bar off Bart Verbruggen’s fingertips. Helped build play up forward and tracked back.

JORGINHO 6.5

Composed but struggled with the game’s pace at times. Nice cross to assist Kai Havertz.

DECLAN RICE 7.5

A lynchpin in the middle. Kept calm in tight spaces.

BUKAYO SAKA 7.5

Threatened early in the first half. His penalty was executed perfectly.

KAI HAVERTZ 8.5

As the visitors sang, ‘Kai Havertz scores again’. That’s five goals in seven league matches. Effective link-up play throughout the match.

GABRIEL JESUS 6.5

Won a penalty which gave Arsenal the lead. Moments of dribbling magic. Too wasteful in front of goal.

SUBSTITUTES

LEANDRO TROSSARD 7

Sealed the points with a dainty chip past the goalkeeper.

GABRIEL MARTINELLI 6.5

Put in a shift defensively.

TAKEHIRO TOMIYASU: 6.5

Helped see off the clean sheet.

Manager: MIKEL ARTETA 7

Took Saka off early to preserve him and rotated his players well.

BRIGHTON (4-2-3-1)

Verbruggen 6; Lamptey 6.5, Van Hecke 6, Dunk 5.5, Estupinan 6; Baleba 6, Gross 6; Adingra 7, Moder 6 (Buoananotte 63min, 6), Enciso 6.5 (Pedro 63, 6); Welbeck 6

Manager: ROBERTO DE ZERBI 6

Referee: JOHN BROOKS 6.5

Kept a lid on when tensions rose.