Arsenal extended their guide at the teetotum of the English language Premier League on New Year’s Eve. They did so with a rampant 4-2 win at Brighton, a lodge that has been something of a bogy squad for the Gunners inwards recent years.

But non for the 2022-23 version of Arsenal, apparently. And the bookies are beginning to sense the coffee.

Brighton’s nickname is “the Seagulls” because the seabird is ubiquitous and noisy in the holiday resort city on England’s S coast.

But the sobriquet has ne'er been more apt. The Brighton squad cloud and printing press and beak similar gulls attacking your fish and chips on the city’s famous promenade. Brighton makes a pest of themselves. Unlike seagulls, though, they are also technically really just at soccer.

But Arsenal swatted them outside as though they’d been gifted a monumental seagull swat for Christmas. This was a spirited the Gunners were supposed to chance difficult. But it was a breeze. Like all the other “tests” they breezed yesteryear so far this season.

Needle Moves

Martin Odegaard had no more business organization nutmegging Louis Dunk ilk that in the penalty box as trio defenders closed in on him midway through and through the foremost half. The silky-footed Arsenal chieftain is staking a claim for EPL participant of the season, notching upwardly a end and an outrageous assist at the Amex Stadium.

Thomas Partey was imperious inwards the identification number sextet position, winning backwards the clod heights up the pitch, turning, spinning, drubbing his man, playing imperfect tense passes to exercise set up attacks.

The look triad of Bukayo Saka, Martinelli, and Eddie Nketiah were all firing, registering a end each. And with ii goals inwards 2 games, the latter is proving to be an acceptable surrogate for the talismanic Gabriel Jesus, who was injured playing for Brazil inward the World Cup.

Two hours earlier, Manchester City dropped two points by contriving to tie at nursing home to Everton. City are arguably the topper squad in the world. But for the first-class honours degree 16 games of this season, they haven’t still been the best team inward England.

And Arsenal’s deuce post-World Cup victories – vi points to City’s 4 – has moved the needle inward the betting markets.

The Gunners are now around 5/4 – an implied chance of 44.4% – to win the league with most bookmakers. City are 8/11, or 57.9%.

But some bookmakers, such as Matchbook and SBK, have made Arsenal slim favorites at 7/5.

Are City Less Brilliant?

And wherefore not? It’s Jan and they’re sevener points clear. And so far this season, they experience proved themselves to be the team least likely to drop points.

Man City experience the Norse “fotball” end simple machine that is Erling Haaland, and they have got to a greater extent deepness to their squad, and more experience, and the so-called “winning DNA.”

But is there a sensory faculty that City aren’t quite as honest as they make been over the yesteryear few seasons? Could Haaland live too much of a focus? Is he suction the lifeblood from everyone else in the team? Does Pep’s scheme demand a false IX kind of than an out-and-out striker to follow optimal?

Don’t panic. These questions and to a greater extent will follow answered inward the coming months.

Meanwhile, Arsenal need Partey, Mary Martin Odegaard, and Saka to stay put as level-headed as possible. This January, the Gunners demand to gain a goal-scoring winger who can buoy drama on both flanks to gift Saka and Martinelli an occasional hebdomad off. It looks the likes of Ukrainian wonderkid Mykhailo Mudryk may follow that player.

Whoever your money’s on of the top of the inning two, it will follow a tempting bet. And that’s why the EPL is currently the to the highest degree exciting and free-enterprise(a) association football conference inward the world.