It was not pretty, but Martin Odegaard's goal was enough to secure the 1-0 win that ensured Arsenal go into the international break as the Premier League leaders.

It was Arsenal's 34th 1-0 win under Mikel Arteta, to equal their best start to a Premier League season under the Spaniard of 27 points earned after 10 games in 2022-23.

No team has enjoyed more 1-0 wins since Arteta was appointed back in 2019, with the Gunners winning their past 10 home games in all competitions, keeping eight clean sheets in that time.

Odegaard's goal though, bundled home from close range, may well have been a relief to those at Pro Ref, too.

A controversial video assistant referee (VAR) decision, which denied the Gunners a first-half penalty, threatened to be the story as a largely uneventful game drifted by.

When referee Farai Hallam was sent to the pitchside monitor for a VAR review for a shirt pull by Nobel Mendy on Kai Havertz, surely everyone inside the Emirates was expecting a penalty.

The irony would not be lost on…