Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League on New Year's Eve. They won 4-2 at Brighton, a club that has been taboo for the Gunners in recent years. But obviously not for Arsenal in 2022-23.

 

Gamblers start to smell the coffee.

 

Brighton is nicknamed "The Seagull" because of the ubiquity and noise of seabirds in the resort city on England's south coast. But the moniker has never been so apt. Brighton teams flock like seagulls to attack your fish and chips on the city's famous promenade. Brighton brought on their own humiliation. Unlike the gulls, though, they are also technically very good at football.

 

But Arsenal fought them off as if they were being presented with a giant seagull for Christmas. It was a game that the Gunners should have found difficult. But it's a breeze. Like every other "test" so far this season, they passed with flying colors.

 

 

Halfway through the first half, with three full-backs closing in on him, Martin Odegaard had no right to fight him in the box like Louis Dunk did. The silky Arsenal captain is in contention for the EPL player of the season with a goal and an assist at the Amex Stadium.

 

Thomas Partey was very domineering at the six, winning possession high up the pitch, turning, spinning, beating his man, building the offense with progressive passing.

 

A front three of Bukayo Saka, Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah scored a goal each. And with two goals in two games, the latter proved to be an acceptable replacement for talisman Gabriel Jesus, who was injured for Brazil at the World Cup.

 

Arsenal's two post-World Cup wins - six out of four for Manchester City - have changed the course of the betting markets. The Gunners are now about 5/4 - with an implied probability of 44.4% - winning the league title at most bookmakers. The city is 8/11, or 57.9%. But some bookmakers, such as Matchbook and SBK, have placed Arsenal favorites at 7/5.

 

It's January and they're seven points ahead. And so far this season, they have proven that they are the team least likely to lose points. City have the Norwegian "football" goal machine, Erling Haaland, in their squad with more depth, experience and what they call "winning DNA".

 

Don't panic. These questions and more will be answered in the coming months.

 

Meanwhile, Arsenal need Partey, Martin Ødegaard and Saka to be as fit as possible. In January, the Gunners needed a scoring winger who could attack on both wings, giving Saka and Martinelli the occasional week off. It looks like Ukrainian prodigy Mykhailo Mudryk could be that player.

 

It's going to be an enticing bet no matter where your money goes in the top two. That's why the EPL is the most exciting and competitive football league in the world right now.