Bukayo Saka insisted Arsenal are not looking too far ahead into 2023, though admitted the Gunners have a “great opportunity” in the Premier League title race.
Victory over Brighton in the final top-flight match of the year moved Arsenal seven points clear at the top of the table, as Mikel Arteta’s side took full advantage of Manchester City’s draw with Everton earlier in the day.
Arsenal have won 14 of their 16 Premier League matches so far this season, the only defeat coming away to Manchester United, and continue to show no signs of slowing down.
While a title race looks to be very much on the cards, Saka was keen to keep the focus on more immediate targets after the match.
“At the start of the season if you had asked us if we want this, we’d bite your hands off so we’re very happy,” Saka told Sky Sports.
He added: “It’s a great opportunity we have and it’s a great place we’ve put ourselves in.
“But we’re not focused on that right now, we just want to continue to focus on the next game because we know how good Newcastle have been playing. That’s our only focus right now.”
Saka put Arsenal in front at the Amex Stadium with barely a minute on the clock, before Martin Odegaard and Eddie Nketiah put the visitors in complete control.
Goals from Kaoru Mitoma and Evan Ferguson gave Brighton a sniff of a second-half comeback, though Gabriel Martinelli’s strike in between those slowed the Seagulls’ charge.
There were some unexpected nervy moments for Arsenal late in the match as they looked slightly panicked at the back, a period their captain wants the team to learn from.
“We need to control the game a little bit better,” Odegaard said.
“We let them into the game twice there. They’re a difficult team to play against, very good on the ball.
“I think we can do better in some parts of the game.”
