Ethan Nwaneri, 17, made history as the first Arsenal player to score multiple Premier League goals before turning 18, netting a brilliant 16th-minute opener on a frigid south coast evening.

But Arsenal’s hopes of closing the gap on league leaders Liverpool faded at the Amex, where Joao Pedro’s 61st-minute penalty shifted momentum against Mikel Arteta’s men.

In August, Brighton frustrated Arsenal with a contentious 1-1 draw at the Emirates, highlighted by Declan Rice’s controversial red card for delaying the restart, courtesy of referee Chris Kavanagh.

More dropped points against Fabian Hurzeler’s team will have left Arteta fuming, especially since Joao Pedro avoided a suspension for an elbowing incident against Brentford’s Yehor Yarmolyuk last week.

The decisive moment came when Pedro collided with William Saliba in the box—a challenge that looked fair until referee Anthony Taylor awarded a penalty, potentially shaping the title race.

Arsenal now sit five points behind Arne Slot’s Liverpool, having played two games more. To make a comeback, the North Londoners will need a miraculous turnaround.

Meanwhile, Brighton extended their unbeaten streak to eight league matches, albeit without a win, drawing six of those games for a league-high 10 stalemates this season.

Nwaneri earned a second consecutive Premier League start in a shuffled Arsenal lineup. Declan Rice, Jorginho, and Leandro Trossard featured, while Thomas Partey filled in at right-back for the suspended Jurrien Timber.

Joao Pedro bagged a penalty to share the spoils on the south coastCredit: Reuters

Ethan Nwaneri was the bright spark for Arsenal as the teenager bagged the Gunners’ opener.Credit: Getty

William Saliba mistimed his header and clashed heads with Joao Pedro in the boxCredit: Sky Sports

VAR deemed the clash of heads to be a penaltyCredit: Getty

Pedro confidently dispatched the spot-kickCredit: Getty

Despite suggesting he was now well enough to feature, Arteta left Kai Havertz out yet again after the German missed the 3-1 victory at Brentford with a sickness bug.

Skipper Martin Odegaard featured against the Bees despite also suffering from the illness, so sat on the bench for this one, alongside Gabriel Martinelli.

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Rotation is the name of the game for Arteta with nine games in four different competitions to contend with this month.

Yet the significance of this one could not be overstated, needing to pile some form of pressure on leaders Liverpool with Prem bouts coming thick and fast in the New Year.

Arsenal were back in their bold black strip, one that Arteta likes. The Spaniard believes it strikes fear into opposition players on their own patch, and the Gunners began menacingly.

For all the changes in personnel, the visitors were sharp and silky on the ball with Trossard at the heart of it, serenaded by a chorus of boos on his old stomping ground.

In-form Brazilian Gabriel Jesus was then slipped in by a crafty Jorginho pick-out.

He may have six in his last four in all competitions, but Jesus’ shot was blocked by the legs of Bart Verbruggen before the offside flag was raised.

Arsenal were comfortable, but so were Brighton, galloping off on the occasional counter before retreating back in a hurry.

With Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel watching on, a spark was needed, and Arsenal got it from their two Englishmen Rice and Nwaneri, combining with some lovely, fluid runs down the right.

Ethan Nwaneri tucked away a confident opener for ArsenalCredit: Getty

Nwaneri then popped up in space, found by Mikel Merino, driving towards goal and scurrying a finish under the body of Verbruggen.

It was his fifth goal so far this term, and now just the sixth player to score more than once in the Prem before turning 18, alongside the likes of Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen and James Milner.

If anyone had any doubts over whether this kid is ready for the big time, they have been silenced for good it seems.

And what a time to do it with Tuchel watching on. The Enfield-born Hale End prodigy has plied his trade in the U1 s, U17s and U19s for England so far. Is another step up now on the cards?

Arsenal looked relieved to have found the opener, but then became nervy. David Raya came to the rescue as Jorginho fluffed an overhead kick in his own box.

Brighton sensed an opening. Simon Adingra blazed over a glorious chance after another sloppy bit of play from Jorginho.

With the game turning gritty, Arsenal turned to their corner prowess, but their opponents had done their homework. Gabriel was double-teamed and then hauled to the ground by Matt O’Riley.

It was from another corner that youngling Nwaneri picked up a yellow card for timewasting, the dark arts not going unpunished this time.