The Gunners would, in all likelihood, end up as unpopular, unloved champions as their hard-nosed approach comes under increasingly unflattering scrutiny.

Indeed, Brighton’s head coach Fabian Hurzeler, who flagged up what he clearly regarded as Arsenal’s time-wasting before the game, did not have his opinion changed by what he saw.

“I think there was only one team who tried to play football today”, said Hurzeler, “and therefore I’m proud of how they did it.”

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta defended his corner, greeting Hurzeler’s criticism with a caustic “what a surprise” before saying: “You just go back to the previous games and you’ll find a lot of comments like this always.”

But more criticism came their way from the outspoken Hurzeler after a fractious eyesore of a game was settled by Bukayo Saka’s early goal, one that saw Arsenal’s lead at the top of the table extended to seven points, creating a potentially decisive advantage.

Will Arsenal and Arteta care if the means justify the end of a 22-year wait to win the Premier League? Unlikely.

Arteta’s side have been criticised for what outside observers regard as their employment of dark arts and an over-reliance on set-piece expertise to maintain their position at the top of the table.

And this 1-0 victory at Amex Stadium was the very definition of winning ugly. In fact to describe it as “ugly” is an insult to ugly.

When the half-time whistle arrived, Arsenal’s xG was just 0.01. The second half was hardly an improvement given it took until the 88th minute for Kai Havertz to register their second effort on target. The final result was the 10th time this season they have won by a single goal.

It was certainly not pleasing on the eye to Hurzeler, who spent almost the entire game enraged by Arsenal’s strategy and what unfolded before him.

And yet, as the Gunners fans reacted joyously at the final whistle to this win and also at Manchester City’s failure to beat Nottingham Forest, this beast of a triumph might turn out to be a beauty.

As Arsenal celebrated and City slipped, this felt like it may well be the defining night in this tense battle to the Premier League finishing line.

This is not a popularity contest. It is a fiercely competitive title contest that Arsenal are currently winning.

Hurzeler continued on a theme that is developing around Arteta’s Arsenal when he said: “I will never be that kind of manager who tries to win in that way. I want to do well. I want my players to keep improving, keep playing football on the pitch.

“In the end, of course, every team will manage and waste time, but I think there has to be a limit, and the limit has to be set by the Premier League. The limit has to be set by the referees, at the moment they just do what they want.”

Hurzeler continued: “If I would ask now everyone in the room if he really enjoyed this football game I’m sure maybe one raises his arm because he is a big Arsenal fan but besides that, no chance.”

Arteta, as expected, passionately defended his players and their approach.

“I love my players,” he said. “That’s the highlight. I love my players, we love our players and I love the way we compete.”

And on external criticism, Arteta replied: “I think they love our players. I mean, every time they talk about our players, I think they are the most loved ones in the country.”

He added: “We look after our own garden.”

The Gunners’ garden currently looks very rosy, but it is increasingly clear that if they are to win their first Premier League since Arsene Wenger’s “Invincibles” 22 years ago, there will not be many admirers outside their own part of north London.

This mess of a match was settled by a goal in keeping with Arsenal’s win, a routine ninth-minute shot from Bukayo Saka that took a deflection off Carlos Baleba before slipping through the legs of Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen.

This was about as creative as it got for Arsenal as they were forced back by Brighton, barely creating another opening, hanging on helped by immense, committed defending.

At the heart of it all was the magnificent Gabriel, repelling all Brighton’s borders and marshalling resources with his outstanding central defensive partner William Saliba missing through injury.

Arsenal now have that seven point cushion, although City still have a game in hand and face the Gunners at Etihad Stadium. It still had the feeling of a result that carried huge weight.

“You just look at this Arsenal side and how they go about winning games, they manage to just grind out results and that’s all they’ve done tonight,” said former England goalkeeper Rob Green on BBC Radio 5 Live.

“They’ve had a stroke of good fortune. There’s not one player that can turn around and say they had a good game, except maybe [Piero] Hincapie and maybe one or two others defensively.”

Arsenal are almost revelling in their status as the bad guys of the Premier League, with Hurzeler’s pre-match words adding spice to an already red-hot atmosphere.

He turned in anger to fourth official David Webb after only eight minutes when Arsenal lingered over a throw-in. Every delay (and there were plenty) brought howls of outrage from Brighton’s fans.

Arsenal’s huddle at the start of the second half was greeted with more derision and jeers. If Hurzeler was making a point to Brighton’s fans with his words before the game, they hit the bullseye.

The fury was at its height on the hour when Arsenal keeper David Raya made a save from Georginio Rutter down to his right then slumped to the ground holding his shoulder, requiring lengthy treatment.

Brighton’s fans were at boiling point and Hurzeler clearly felt the same as he said later: “I ask one question. Did you see in the Premier League game a goalkeeper going down three times? No.”

The ill-temper continued into stoppage time when match-winner Saka went down and stayed down.

Clearly believing it was an act of gamesmanship and a delaying tactic, Brighton’s Joel Veltman unceremoniously tried to drag Saka to his feet, prompting a push and an angry exchange.

It was the last flare-up of a confrontational night, one that ended with Arsenal having their destiny in their own hands as they stand eight games from title glory.

And if they do finally claim that elusive Premier League crown, Arsenal will believe this is the ultimate answer to their growing band of detractors as they chase that first Premier League since Arsene Wenger’s “Invincibles” 22 years ago.

The venue has been Everton’s home ground since 1892, but they will move to a new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock for the start of next season.

Hurzeler, the Premier League’s youngest ever permanent manager, and his Brighton side were in no mood to provide any sentiment towards the opposition.

Tackles flew in during a thunderous first half in which Everton’s Jack Harrison had an early goal ruled out for offside, while at the other end Joao Pedro rattled the post with a stinging low drive.

The visitors took the lead courtesy of Kaoru Mitoma’s easy finish at the back post following fine work from debutant Yankuba Minteh, who was heavily linked with a move to Everton before joining Brighton this summer.

Everton had a penalty award overturned at the start of the second half despite Lewis Dunk appearing to catch Dominic Calvert-Lewin, as referee Simon Hooper reviewed the incident on the pitchside monitor.

Feeling hard done by, Everton were then punished further as Idrissa Gueye misplaced a pass in midfield, allowing the Seagulls to counter, and Danny Welbeck stroked in a lovely finish from the edge of the box.

Everton’s Ashley Young was sent off as the last man for pulling back Japan international Mitoma, and Simon Adingra slid home a third goal late on to inflict a thoroughly desperate opening defeat on the home side.

The Seagulls will face Sean Dyche’s team at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Ahead of the match, Hurzeler confirmed on the club’s website that Lamptey, along with Pervis Estupinan and Evan Ferguson, has returned to training but will not be fit for the game.

“It’s great news, but I’m not sure if they’re ready for the first match,” said the German manager, formerly of FC St. Pauli.

Lamptey, who missed much of last season due to injuries under previous manager Roberto De Zerbi, is anticipated to be a crucial player for Hurzeler this season.

The Ghanaian defender made 19 Premier League appearances last year.

However, Lamptey is expected to be ready for Ghana’s opening two fixtures in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Angola and Niger next month.

Hurzeler, who guided St Pauli to the Bundesliga 2 title last season by winning 20 of their 34 matches, has signed a contract until 2027.

Brighton chairman Tony Bloom said his work with St Pauli made him a “standout candidate” to replace Roberto de Zerbi, who left at the end of the season.

Hurzeler will start with the side once he receives a work permit before Brighton’s squad embarks on pre-season preparations in July.

“He has a style of play that aligns with how we want a Brighton & Hove Albion team to play and I’m confident it is one our supporters will appreciate and enjoy,” said Bloom.

Ryan Mason, then 29, was briefly Tottenham’s interim boss in 2021 and is the youngest coach to ever lead a Premier League team, but Hurzeler is the youngest to do so on a full-time basis since the division’s creation in 1992.

Hurzeler is also younger than a number of Brighton’s senior players, including James Milner, 38, Danny Welbeck, 33, and Lewis Dunk, 32.

The new Seagulls manager said he was looking forward to working for a team who are “highly ambitious”.

“The club has a unique history and bold vision for the future so I am truly excited to be part of the project,” said Hurzeler.

First-team coach Andrew Crofts and goalkeeping coach Jack Stern will remain in their positions, and Brighton say the rest of Hurzeler’s backroom staff will be confirmed “in due course”.

Who are the Premier League’s other youngest managers?

• Ryan Mason, Tottenham, 2021 – 29 years, 312 days (interim manager)
• Attilio Lombardo, Crystal Palace, 1998 – 32 years, 67 days (interim manager)
• Chris Coleman, Fulham, 2003 – 32 years, 313 days
• Gianluca Vialli, Chelsea, 1998 – 33 years, 227 days (initially player-manager)
• Andre Villas-Boas, Chelsea, 2011 – 33 years, 301 days