EPL: 17-year-old Nwaneri scores as Arsenal fail to beat Brighton

Arsenal conceded a second-half penalty to share the points with Brighton & Hove Albion following a 1-1 draw in their English Premier League (EPL) encounter at the Amex Stadium on Saturday.

In a match where Martin Odegaard was surprisingly benched for Arsenal, and Thomas Partey started as a wingback, 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri put the Gunners ahead before the visitors were pegged back by Joao Pedro’s penalty to share the points.

Arsenal took the lead in the 16th minute through Nwaneri. The teenager was released by Mikel Merino’s through ball. He maintained his composure to slot beyond the goalkeeper for 1-0.

Nwaneri, born in England to Nigerian parents, scored his second goal in the EPL. In 2022, he made history as the youngest player featured in an EPL game.

The home side improved to carve out two gilt-edged chances, but Cote d’Ivoire’s Simon Adingra failed to find the target on both occasions, and the visitors went into the break with their one-goal lead.

The Seagulls improved in the second half and were awarded a penalty when referee Anthony Taylor penalised defender William Saliba for a clash of heads with Pedro. The Brighton forward picked himself up to send David Raya the wrong way for 1-1 on 61 minutes.

Both sides searched for a winner to no avail in a tense finale and had to settle for a draw that dents Arsenal’s fading title challenge.

Mikel Arteta’s side remain in second position with 40 points from 20 matches and cut Liverpool’s lead to five points, but they have played two games more than the Reds.

In other matches, rejuvenated Manchester City scored twice in each half to defeat woeful West Ham United 4-1, but Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace. Newcastle United, however, held on to claim all three points in a 2-1 win against Tottenham in London, while Brentford crushed Southampton, an EPL basement club, 5-0 in their backyard.

REJUVENATED MAN CITY TAKING IT A GAME AT A TIME

Manchester City has endured a difficult few months. The team has won just one match in nine EPL matches, including six defeats, and just one win in 14 games in all competitions.

The run ended with a victory at Leicester last week, and Pep Guardiola’s side has made it consecutive victories for the first time since October with a victory over West Ham.

Savinho and Erling Haaland have shone in both games. The former assisted the latter, who ended his goal drought last week, in both matches.

Savinho scored in each game and looks ready to take some creativity burden off the ageing Kevin de Bruyne.

CHELSEA’S SLUMP

Chelsea, on the other hand, have a defensive issue to solve while the goals are drying up.

The crisis has led to a four-match winless run that saw a commanding twelve-point advantage over on-form Newcastle United dissipate to two points.

There is a need for repair work at Stamford Bridge.

RESULTS

Brighton 1-1 Arsenal

Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle United

Manchester City 4-1 West Ham United

Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea

Aston Villa 2-1 Leicester City

Southampton 0-5 Brentford

Bournemouth 1-0 Everton