Arsenal v Brighton player ratings: Rice 9, Jesus 8; Milner 4, Dunk 7

Gunners ease to 2-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium

ARSENAL RATINGS: Deckchairs out for Spaniard until first-half injury-time when he spilled cross but recovered to pick up at second attempt. Seagulls failed to register single attempt on goal until 64th minute when Raya easily saved Hinshelwood's header. Getty Images

Earned game’s first yellow card for pulling back Mitouma, much to frustration of home fans who felt Brighton had escaped similar punishment with earlier challenges. Rarely troubled by Japan international until one run and cross by winger in last 10 minutes that should have ended with Seagulls scoring. AP

Strolled through opening 45 minutes without breaking sweat, bar one sliced clearance late on in half that almost ended in chance for Brighton. Quality as usual from French defender who will be crucial to Arsenal's title hopes. PA

Could only steer downward header straight at keeper in 22nd minute. Combined well with defensive partner Saliba to not give Ferguson any time on ball and barely gave young attacker a kick. PA

Solid game at the Emirates from Ukrainian both defensively, as Brighton threatened very rarely down his flank, and going forward. AFP

Sprayed cross-field balls straight to teammates’ feet from opening minute and cannot remember wasted pass from England midfielder. Broke up play, produced surging runs and denied goal his performance deserved by Verbruggen block. PA

Curled shot just wide of target after 15 minutes. Glorious pass with outside of foot behind Brighton defence to put Saka through just after half-hour mark. Captain and birthday boy saw powerful strike saved by Verbruggen after break. Reuters

Little impact until six minutes before break when had shot on turn in penalty area blocked by Van Hecke. Headed good chance over bar from Martinelli cross with quarter of an hour to go but sealed win with three minutes left after being put through one-on-one with keeper. PA

Too quick for the aging legs of Milner drifting inside and outside the veteran at will. Supplied cross for Martinelli that Brazilian failed to finish. Struck shot over bar just before break. AFP

Should have done better with first-time effort from Saka cutback that would have opened scoring but fired way over. Had got little joy out of Veltman but immediately came into game when Dutch defender went off injured for Brighton. AFP

A couple of early efforts, one weak shot hit straight at keeper, another deflected for corner as Arsenal registered 15 first-half attempts with little joy. Given free header to open scoring after 53 minutes and, as usual, led line well for Gunners. AP

SUBS: (On for Jesus 80’) Nice pass to put Havertz through on goal for Arsenal’s second. AFP

(On for Martinelli 80’) No opportunity to make mark against former club. Reuters

(On for Havertz 89’) Must have thought he was going to score moments after coming on but saw deflected shot saved by keeper. Reiss Nelson: N/A (On for Saka 89’) Jakub Kiwior: N/A (On for Zinchenko 90+3’) PA

BRIGHTON RATINGS: A few regulation saves aside in first half, not called upon to make any serious stops. Left punching thin air when teammate Van Hecke flicked on corner ahead of Jesus scoring and Havertz strike seemd to go through his body for second. Solid saves after break from Odegaard and Rice. AP

Had started game so well, keeping the dangerous Martinelli very quiet only to seemingly tweak his knee challenging Brazilian and limp off to join Seagulls’ lengthy injury list. Reuters

Lost track of the number of vital blocks, tackles and interceptions the Dutch defender made to frustrate Arsenal, only to provide unfortunate flick header on corner that led to Jesus’s opener. Getty Images

Blocked shot from England colleague Saka in opening 15 minutes. Another eye-watering block with groin on Odegaaard strike in second half but regained composure to head ball off line from resulting corner. Wild shot from distance late one. Reuters

Couldn’t handle Saka’s pace from off and should have been booked for bringing down attacker after 15 minutes, caught ball watching as passes were sent behind him and even his distribution was poor. Surprising that it took until hour mark to be taken off. PA

Former Chelsea midfielder battled, harried and chased while out of possession but couldn't get near Rice in middle of park. Booked when caught Jesus with follow-through on tackle.

German has five assists this season and thought he had produced another but Hinshelwood could only head his cross straight at keeper in second half. Missed absolute sitter at near post when sent close-range shot wide in last 10 minutes that would have made it 1-1. Frustrated and booked for dissent after Arsenal’s second. Getty Images

One scintillating touch to skip past Zinchenko in opening half hour but no other attacking moments of note and spent most of time helping team’s defensive effort. PA

The 35-year-old former England international helped Brighton dig in defensively as Arsenal attacked in waves but offered nothing offensively. PA

Booked for pulling back Saka minutes after Arsenal defender White had been seen yellow for similar challenge on Japanese winger. Quiet until late on when one run and cross found Gross only for German to miss target. AFP

The teenage Irish striker has six goals to his name this season but not given any time and space against Saliba and Gabriel. AFP

SUBS: (On for Veltman 27’) Early introduction due to injury, the 18-year-old was immediately put under pressure by Martinelli. Headed Brighton’s first attempt on goal straight into arms of Raya. PA

(On for Ferguson 60’) Nothing of note from Brazilian. AP

(On for Lallana 60’) Argentine came on for the aging legs of Lallana with side already a goal down. Getty Images. Igor Julio: 5/10 (On for Milner 60’) Third of Brighton’s South American substitutions but Brazilian had little affect.

(On for Adingra 79’) Given warm reception on return to the Emirates. Getty Images

Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League on Sunday after a comfortable 2-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion.

Second-half goals from Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz secured the three points as the Gunners bounced back from last week's defeat at Aston Villa.

After an first half that saw Arsenal fail to score despite registering 15 shots on target to Brighton's none, the headed finish from Jesus in the 53rd minute was met with huge relief from home fans and players alike at the Emirates Stadium.

It was the Brazilian's seventh in the league, which has also seem him contribute three assists, in a season when his goalscoring abilities have been called into question.

German forward Havertz then sealed victory with a calm finish three minutes from time after being put through on goal by substitute Eddie Nketiah.

"It’s not only about the result, the way we played, the way we controlled them," said Jesus, whose team lead second-placed Liverpool by a single point. "They have a good team. It was amazing.

"Kai is an amazing player, so strong and tall, his quality, he helps us a lot. We’re very happy we have him. Everyone knows about [Manchester] City’s quality.

"We have to focus on our game. It's not only City in the Premier League. Liverpool are playing so well and Villa are playing amazing. We have to focus on us."

You can see the player ratings from Sunday's game in the gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or swipe if using a mobile device.