Arsenal fell to third place in the Premier League table before the match after title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City gained three new points in the past few days.
But the London club's attacking players returned Arsenal to the top of the table against Brighton.
Half an hour later, Brazilian Gabriel Jesus was obstructed on his way to the penalty area by Tariq Lamptey. Thus, referee John Brooks awarded the penalty kick.
Martin Odegaard stood with the ball in his hands for a long time, but then passed it to his teammate Bukayo Saka. The Englishman was safe from the chalk mark and sent the ball into the bottom left corner.
The 22-year-old equaled his own Premier League goalscoring record. Saka scored 14 goals in the league last season.
A quarter of an hour after the end of the first half, German Kai Havertz doubled Arsenal's lead. Odegaard threaded a pass down towards Jorginho's end line. He cut in front of goal, where Havertz scored his ninth league goal this season.
Four minutes before the end of normal time, Leandro Trossard won the ball in his own half. Then he entered the back room, before Havertz passed to the Belgian. Inside the 16-yard box, the 29-year-old passed the ball over the Brighton keeper and made the score 3-0.
Brighton will host Burnley in the next round, while Arsenal will face Aston Villa in the next league match. Before then, Odegaard's side will play in the championship match against Bayern Munich.
(© NTB)
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