Odegaard seals Arsenal win, Wirtz gets off the mark

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Arsenal responded to the pressure applied by Manchester City by beating Brighton 2-1 to retake top spot, while Florian Wirtz scored his first Liverpool goal.

Wirtz scored Liverpool’s second as the Reds beat Wolves 2-1 on an emotional occasion at Anfield as Diogo Jota’s former clubs met for the first time since his death.

City’s 2-1 win in the lunchtime kick-off at the City Ground took them top for a couple of hours. However, Arsenal hit straight back despite making life difficult for themselves against inferior opposition once more.

The Gunners have been guilty of not killing games off in recent weeks in narrow wins over Wolves and Everton before sneaking past Crystal Palace on penalties in the League Cup quarter-finals in midweek.

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Martin Odegaard’s fine strike was all the home side had to show for their first-half domination at the Emirates.

Mikel Arteta’s men had some fortune for the vital second goal when Georginio Rutter turned Declan Rice’s corner into his own net.

But Arsenal nerves were frayed after Diego Gomez pulled a goal back.

David Raya produced a stunning save to deny Yankuba Minteh as Arsenal held on to win by a solitary goal for the seventh time in their 13 league victories this season.

Two of Jota’s three children and other family members were mascots at Anfield as part of a series of tributes to the Portugal international, who was killed in a car crash in July.

On the field, both teams have suffered since but Liverpool continued their turnaround in fortunes to climb into the top four.

Ryan Gravenberch slammed home the opening goal before Wirtz finally struck for the first time since his £100 million ($135 million) move from Bayer Leverkusen.

Liverpool are now unbeaten in seven games but were still far from convincing against a Wolves side without a league win all season.

Santiago Bueno pulled a goal back for the visitors, who remain on just two points from 18 games.

– AFP

Photo: Carl Recine/Getty Images

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Dylan Johnson