Credit: Imago

Evan Lloyd

Thu 5 March 2026 8:36, UK

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Arsenal narrowly beat Brighton and Hove Albion 1-0 on Wednesday night to take a massive step towards winning the Premier League title.

It was gritty and hard-fought, but it has ultimately left the Gunners seven points clear after Manchester City drew with Nottingham Forest.

Bukayo Saka’s goal proved to be the difference on the night, with the strike taking a slight deflection before going past Bart Verbruggen.

Brighton felt Gabriel Martinelli had fouled Mats Wieffer inside the box at the end of the first half, but the VAR was uninterested.

I was in the away end at the American Express Stadium on Wednesday night, and here are three things you may not have caught.

Arsenal fans fume at Chris Kavanagh

After Fabian Hurzeler made his feelings on the referee’s performance clear after the game, much of the focus has been placed on Arsenal.

The Brighton boss accused the Gunners of not attempting to play football, and suggested that Chris Kavanagh did not manage moments of time-wasting well enough.

In the away end, however, Arsenal fans felt that their team had been massively mistreated by the referee.

Cristhian Mosquera was booked for a foul on the touch-line after just 11 minutes – a standard of yellow card that Kavanagh failed to replicate with two or three subsequent Brighton fouls.

As the home fans erupted into chants of “you don’t know what you’re doing”, Arsenal fans joined in, with the referee ultimately an unpopular man on all four sides of the ground.

The reaction as Arsenal fans learned the final result elsewhere

As Wednesday’s game entered its final 15 minutes, I heard a shout from a fan in front of “it’s 2-2!”

Of course, I knew what game they were talking about. Elliot Anderson had just scored a belter at the Etihad Stadium to put Nottingham Forest back on terms with Man City.

But Arsenal’s lead was perilous, and it was far too early to celebrate goals elsewhere just yet.

After a gruelling seven minutes of added time, Kavanagh finally put his whistle to his lips and sent the away fans into a explosion of relief.

But a bigger cheer would come just seconds later, as news filtered through that Man City had drawn. Fans hugged each other and beamed with belief.

Former Everton chief Keith Wyness exclusively told Football Insider that Man City have not shown great consistency, and his words rang true.

The Arsenal players, who had gathered in front of the away end, did not react, but it was revealed on their faces that they knew.

Arsenal chant showcases confidence

Some fans, including myself, are unable to let themselves possibly interfere with their team’s chances of winning by speaking too early and jinxing the result.

It is likely foolish to assume that you, a fan from millions, could have a direct impact on a professional team by merely speaking, but I would rather not take the risk.

That was not the attitude of many of the fans filtering out of the ground on Wednesday night, however, as the infamous chant of: “We’re gonna win the league, we’re gonna win the league, and now you’re going to believe us” went up.

I winced slightly, and I did later as I heard it while waiting for the train, and even as I got off the train back in London.

But who can begrudge Arsenal fans for believing? It has been a difficult few years being denied at the final hurdle, but there is now a palpable confidence that this year may well be the one.