The Gunners appeared in control after Martin Odegaard opened his league account for the season and Brighton forward Georginio Rutter inadvertently doubled the lead early in the second half. But Diego Gómez's strike just after the hour mark changed the tone of the contest, turning a comfortable afternoon at the Emirates into a nervy finish.
Brighton sensed an opportunity to snatch a point and came close when substitute Yankuba Minteh curled a superb effort towards the top corner late on. David Raya's astonishing one-handed save preserved Arsenal's lead and proved decisive, earning widespread praise from pundits and teammates alike.
Arteta later pointed to the moment as an example of what title-chasing teams require. "Those are the performances you need in key moments," he said, while acknowledging his side had made life harder for themselves than necessary.
Statistically, Arsenal dominated much of the match, especially before the break when Brighton failed to register a single shot. Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard repeatedly found space behind the visitors' wing-backs, but the hosts failed to turn superiority into a commanding scoreline. That inefficiency, Arteta suggested, invited late pressure.
"We should have scored the third goal," the Arsenal manager said. "When you don't, you have to suffer, and you must show composure and understanding to manage those moments."
The victory carried extra significance in the context of the title race. Manchester City had briefly overtaken Arsenal earlier in the day with a late win at Nottingham Forest, increasing the pressure on the north Londoners to respond. They did so just enough, restoring their place at the summit ahead of a demanding run of fixtures.
Arteta insisted his squad is ready for the challenge of keeping pace with Pep Guardiola's side. "Every three days is going to be a challenge, but we are up for it," he said, while noting the importance of getting more players fit to maintain freshness.
There were minor concerns on the injury front, with Riccardo Calafiori suffering a muscular issue in the warm-up and Jurriën Timber forced off following a problem picked up in training. Even so, Arsenal found a way to win - a quality Arteta views as essential in a tight title battle.
For all the late anxiety, the result extended a run of gritty victories and underlined Arsenal's resilience. Raya's save may have stolen the headlines, but Arteta's message was clear: if Arsenal want to stay ahead in the race, control and composure must match their ambition.
Martin Odegaard praised Declan Rice after the midfielder impressed in an unfamiliar right-back role during Arsenal's 2-1 Premier League win over Brighton, a result that returned the Gunners to the top of the table.
Ollie Watkins has heaped praise on Aston Villa boss Unai Emery, after the club continued their impressive run with a victory over Chelsea.
Chelsea's display against Aston Villa ended in heartbreak at Stamford Bridge, as a strong first-half showing was undone by defensive lapses and late goals, leaving Maresca frustrated with the result and missed chances.
Arne Slot hailed Florian Wirtz's performance as "special" after the midfielder scored his first goal for Liverpool in a 2-1 Premier League victory over Wolves at Anfield.
