Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has insisted that there is still a long way to go in the Premier League title race following his side's 4-2 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Gunners had the chance to move seven points clear of Manchester City at the Amex after the reigning champions could only manage a 1-1 draw with Everton on New Year's Eve.
Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Eddie Nketiah put Arteta's men in a commanding 3-0 lead before the hour mark, but Kaoru Mitoma pulled one back for Brighton before Gabriel Martinelli added a fourth for the Gunners.
Arsenal came under the cosh during the final exchanges and conceded again to Evan Ferguson, and Roberto De Zerbi's side had the ball in the back of the net again through Mitoma in the 89th minute.
However, the Japan international was coming back from an offside position, and the goal was ruled out as Arsenal survived a late wave of pressure to hold on for a thrilling six-goal win.
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Speaking to the press after seeing his side extend their unassailable lead at the top of the table, Arteta refused to get carried away with hopes of title glory and admitted that his "excitement" came from his players discussing where they needed to be better.
"I don't know, it's still a long, long run to go. My excitement comes when I go in the dressing room and the players are talking about what they should've done better today," Arteta said. "That means they know that we still can play better, be better and against Newcastle [United] we will have to be better.
"It's a big win, I'm really happy! It's a really tough place to come, they're a really good side. They are extremely well-coached and they made it tough for us and we made it tough for them as well.
"We had moments we discussed before where we were going to suffer and defend deeper. There were moments where we should've done better and put ourselves in trouble but that's the learning part and every game is a huge test."
A few days on from producing a man-of-the-match performance against West Ham United, Arsenal captain Odegaard was once again pulling the strings on the Amex turf and ended the game with another goal and assist to his name.
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The 24-year-old's half volley bounced off the ground into the top corner - his seventh goal of the season - before he provided an exquisite through ball for Martinelli to score Arsenal's fourth in the second half.
Arteta was once again left delighted with Odegaard's performance and was also pleased to see each member of Arsenal's attacking quartet get on the scoresheet, adding: "He is doing what we want him to do - to decide football matches and work really hard and deliver to the team what he needs in these moments which is different.
"The four front players scored again today; that is great news. Eddie scoring again, Bukayo, Martinelli and in crucial moments as well. That's what we want, those players deciding football matches when the team needs it and that's what they're doing.
The Gunners' total of 43 points after 16 games is the joint third-highest in Premier League history, with only the Man City team of 2017-18 and Liverpool's 2019-20 title winners (both 46) collecting more at this point of the season.
Arsenal's first fixture of the New Year sees them take on third-placed Newcastle United at the Emirates on Tuesday before they begin their quest for FA Cup glory against Oxford United in the third round on January 9.
Ben Knapton
