EPL : ARSENAL 2 -0 Brighton And Hove Albion (BHAFC)

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger celebrated the 21st anniversary of his arrival at the club with a routine victory over Brighton.

Nacho Monreal put the Gunners ahead early on when he shot through a crowded penalty area after Brighton had failed to clear a free-kick.

A well worked Brighton free-kick resulted in Solly March striking the post from 20 yards shortly afterwards.

But Arsenal added a second goal after half-time when a slick passing move on the counter-attack was emphatically finished off by Alex Iwobi.

The win ensures Wenger's side are a point behind north London rivals Tottenham in the chasing pack behind Premier League leaders Manchester City.

Man of the match - Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)

Even when he is not at his brilliant best, Alexis Sanchez still manages to appear head and shoulders above his contemporaries. Sanchez created twice as many chances (six) and had twice as many shots (eight) as any other Arsenal player. Arsenal fans will be desperate he stays in January.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: "In this job you only look for the next game. When you look back you see the distance you have made. Overall, football changed a lot in this 21 years.

"We kept the clean sheet and of course got three points. We have played more fluent than today but playing Monday, Thursday and today, it was important to get three points. We eased off in concentration and decision-making and then it becomes a bit harder.

Brighton boss Chris Hughton: "It was a spirited performance. I can't accuse the lads of not giving everything.

EPL : Pep Guardiola: Man City need to improve attacking to have title hopes

The team whose squad was worth £596 million and are effectively the public relations arm of an energy-rich Arab state eventually found their way past the club who have spent 34 painful years returning to this level having almost dropped off the Football League radar 20 years ago and whose squad was worth £37.5m.

Since last playing in the top flight in 1983, Brighton have threatened to go out of the league and out of business, sold their own ground and been homeless before building this splendid new stadium and obtaining Premier League football for the first time.

So this was a momentous day and they deserved to enjoy it. The sun shone, the 32,000-capacity community stadium looked magnificent, nestling as it does among the South Downs, and the trains to the village of Falmer were heaving with fans in regulation summer short-sleeved replica kits. 

Gabriel Jesus then challenged for a header but Brighton's Lewis Dunk was the man who got the last touch to make it 2-0

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BRIGHTON -- Pep Guardiola was relieved to avoid an opening day setback like defending champions Chelsea but insists Manchester City need to improve their attacking if they are to challenge for the title.

City kicked off the season with a 2-0 win at newly promoted Brighton but they were left frustrated when they couldn't find a breakthrough in the opening 70 minutes.

Sergio Aguero finally smashed City into the lead before they added a second when Brighton defender Lewis Dunk headed into his own net.

"We attacked too slowly we have to be a little bit quicker and a little bit more precise with more accuracy in our passes."

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Chris Hughton was proud of his #BHAFC's players after their 2-0 defeat to Manchester City.