Diego Gomez's display vs Sunderland was a true masterclass, his updated stats prove it

Brighton are quickly becoming this season's Premier League dark horse with Diego Gomez right at the heart of it.

While midfielder Pascal Gross and defender-turned-winger Maxim De Cuyper will undoubtedly take the headlines through their goals and assists, the aforementioned Paraguayan deserves as much praise.

The Seagulls have been utterly exceptional this season, with their 3-0 win over Arsenal being their crowning achievement so far.

However, performances like the one produced against Sunderland will be the backbone of how their season finishes.

And the statistics emerging around winger Gomez show he is everything Fabian Hurzeler wants from players in his system.

With Gomez proving to be key on both ends of the pitch at the Stadium of Light.

Diego Gomez' all-action performance vs Sunderland analysed

Gomez is not the biggest of names in football, and frankly not even the biggest at Brighton.

Nonetheless, he continues to fly under the radar each week with top-level performances.

Against Sunderland, he once again proved to be the unsung hero, being decisive in defensive actions, while being a threat in the final third as well.

Despite being a winger, Gomez completed more defensive contributions than anyone else on the pitch with 19, as per FotMob.

The next highest was teammate and defender Luka Vuskovic, who had 15.

Additionally, he took more shots than any Brighton or Sunderland player during the 90 minutes.

The 23-year-old also topped the charts for number of sprints with 18, showcasing his hard work throughout the fixture.

A performance that truly encapsulates the meaning of all-action.

Gomez is the perfect embodiment of Brighton's philosophy, combining that work ethic and defensive commitment with the attacking prowess that Hurzeler wants from his side.

Brighton will have no worries over losing Gomez

Brighton's squad often has players that many top clubs around Europe look to snap up.

However, the Seagulls have been proactive in protecting their Paraguayan asset.

The winger has only recently signed a five-year contract extension, keeping him at the club until 2031.

While that is not guaranteed insurance that he will remain at the American Express Stadium, it will give them plenty of room to set high demands.

The Seagulls are one of the best sellers, and frankly recruiters in the Premier League, so it should be no surprise they have once again found a gem in Gomez.