Maybe, just maybe, Arsenal are edging out of the woods. They had to beat Brighton if suggestions of an upturn were to hold much credibility and, while this was hardly a victory for the ages, an assertive second-half performance did plenty to ease the pressure on Mikel Arteta.
Match-winners have been few and far between for them in recent months but the deciding goal offered an exhilarating reminder that they have a seemingly priceless one in their ranks.
