Arsenal 2-0 Brighton: Nicolas Pepe strikes twice as Gunners end campaign with a win

Nicolas Pepe's brace gave Arsenal a 2-0 victory over Brighton as they ended the season with five straight league wins.

Arsenal dominated the whole game and though the Seagulls were diligent in defence they were fortunate Rob Holding's close-range effort was offside after Thomas Partey's flick on from a corner and Gabriel's header came back off the bar.

Two fine finishes from the Ivorian forward put the game beyond doubt, first crashing in a half-volley with his left foot after Calum Chambers played the ball inside to him and then a precise, guided effort through Lewis Dunk's legs and inside the far post.

The margin could have been extended when Partey took a ball from Granit Xhaka and turned sharply in the box before lashing an effort against the crossbar.

The joy in victory was tempered by Tottenham taking late control of the game at Leicester, which meant they finished above their North London rivals.

One certainty of the summer for Brighton is that Yves Bissouma will be on the move from the Amex Stadium.

Arsenal are one of a number of clubs linked with the player who seems the perfect defensive midfielder for any of the big sides. He has made more tackles than any midfielder in the Premier League (and made more than anyone in this match) and is also highly ranked in terms of defensive clearances.

These qualities were shown throughout the match as the Seagulls played largely in retreat and without him the game might have been decided going into half time.

Although Mikel Arteta would no doubt appreciate the way he would screen the sometimes vulnerable back four, with Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United also thought to be interested in the Brighton number eight, he seems more likely to end up elsewhere.

He was not a ubiquitous presence in the game, but whenever he was involved there smelled danger for the Brighton defence.

He will certainly wish the campaign was not about to end as his brace at the Emirates gave him five in the last three games.

If they can all be fit and firing, in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Gabriel Martinelli Arsenal have some goalscoring power, but whatever the case it is very likely Pepe will play a starring role.

The guile he showed for the second goal is one few players in the Premier League could pull off.

Arsenal: Leno 6, Chambers 7, Holding 7, Gabriel 6, Tierney 6, Partey 7, Xhaka 7, Pepe 8*, Odegaard 7, Smith Rowe 7, Aubameyang 6.

Subs: Saka 6, Lacazette 6, Martinelli 6.

Brighton: Sanchez 6, White 6, Webster 7, Dunk 7, Burn 6, Jahanbakhsh 6, Gross 6, Bissouma 7, Trossard 6, Moder 6, Mac Allister 6.

Subs: Lallana 6, Connolly 5, Alzate 6.

32' So close! The corner is met at the front post by Partey who flicks to Holding and he traps the ball on his knee and then shoots past Sanchez only for Webster to clear on or probably just over the line. But Holding was given offside and replays suggest it was the correct call.

45' Off the bar! Out of nowhere, Xhaka clips a ball to Gabriel at the back post and he loops a header over Sanchez which comes back off the top of the crossbar.

49' GOAL FOR ARSENAL! Fine finish from Pepe. Chambers plays a ball first time into the box from the right flank and Pepe controlled perfectly and then rifled home on the half volley with his right.

61' GOAL FOR ARSENAL! Another fine finish from Pepe. What a good end to the season from him. Perfect placement into the corner after receiving a ball into the box from Odegaard and then he shoots through Dunk's legs and inside the far post.

74’ Xhaka finds Partey with a fine ball into the box and the ex Atletico midfielder turns well and half-volleys past Sanchez but it crashes off the bar.