First, Erling Haaland scored his 21st league goal of the season as Manchester City dropped points at home to Everton.

Then it was time for the next Norwegian to write himself into the score sheet.

Arsenal captain Martin Ödegaard showed the way away to Brighton, thundering in 2-0 on a second ball following a corner in the 39th minute.

Before that, he was responsible for a magical play to Gabriel Martinelli when he ice-cold tunneled an opponent in the penalty area and set the entire home defense on fire.

Martinelli then managed to bump the ball in.

No goal that time, but the duo would have time to offer a delicacy before the evening was over.

"One of the passes of the whole season"

With the score at 3-1 in the 71st minute, Ödegaard, far down in his own half of the field, hit a magical cut across the field that freed Martinelli.

The brass set 4-1 which was the nail in the coffin.

- It was one of the passes of the whole season from Ödegaard.

Just when it looked a little nervous in Arsenal.

Absolutely superb, says the expert Alan Smith in Sky Sports.

"Odegaard's obscene," writes Sky Sports reporter Adam Bate.

Arsenal will finish 2022 as league leaders with 43 points, seven ahead of runners-up Manchester City.

In fact, only two clubs have had a better start 16 games into a Premier League season.

It is Liverpool (2019/2020) and City (2017/2018) who both had 46 points.

The London club's first game of the new year will be on January 3 at home against third placed Newcastle, the big surprise of the season.

SEE ALSO: Lowered after ten seconds - then the angry Haaland responded

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Was lowered after ten seconds - then Erling Haaland answered Photo: Bildbyrån