Arsenal player ratings vs Brighton: Nicolas Pepe at the double

Arsenal's French-born Ivorian midfielder Nicolas Pepe (3R) celebrates scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Brighton and Hove Albion at the Emirates Stadium in London on May 23, 2021. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Alastair Grant / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by ALASTAIR GRANT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

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LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 23: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal takes a shot during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion at Emirates Stadium on May 23, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /

Arsenal Midfielders Ratings

Thomas Partey (CM) – 7/10 – Found his shooting boots! At least in the sense that his efforts didn’t balloon over the bar and strike some poor fan in attendance.

Threaded some neat passes in to the forward players and showed his class when playing out of the Brighton press with his usually elegant drop of the shoulder when facing Bernd Leno. Next season we’ll see the true Partey.

Granit Xhaka (CM) – 8/10 – Was visibly lacking in some fitness with some of his recovery runs looking particularly painful.

However, with him back in the side Arsenal were able to control the game with more physical presence. A dominating performance from the side was largely in part to the Swiss’ role in the engine room. Very strong showing in all departments.

Martin Odegaard (AM) – 9/10 – The best player on the pitch by some distance. From the first minute Odegaard looked fired up, picking up clever positions in central areas and maintaining intense high pressure on the Seagulls defenders. Threaded some lovely balls into dangerous positions and demonstrated his technical value throughout.

You wouldn’t have thought this was his final game following a six-month loan spell where his future is still undecided. Outstanding display.

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