Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi described Evan Ferguson as a player with big potential after the Irish teenager scored his first Premier League goal in their 4-2 loss to Arsenal at the Amex Stadium.
The visitors finish 2022 seven points clear in the Premier League after an entertaining encounter, in which they appeared to be cruising after an hour, goals from Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Eddie Nketiah giving them a 3-0 lead.
Kaoru Mitoma's 65th minute goal livened up the contest sparking a burst of industry from the hosts until Gabriel Martinelli's 71st strike appeared to kill the game.
However, the 17-year old Ferguson, who recently made his debut for the Republic of Ireland senior side against Norway, out-muscled a hesitant William Saliba to become the youngest Irish goalscorer in the Premier League and open up the possibility of a grandstand finish.
Speaking to Sky Sports afterwards, De Zerbi was relatively curt in his comments on the striker, though did speak of his potential along with several of their younger players.
De Zerbi said: "He's (Ferguson) a good player, he has very big potential, like Sarmiento, like Encise, like Lamptey, like Billy Gilmour and Colwill.
"I think the game has been strange, a strange result, it was strange the way Arsenal scored. I'm happy for my players, for our performance against a great team.
"Arsenal have fantastic players and a fantastic coach. I'm sorry for the (disallowed) goal because I think it changed the game, closed the game.
"It was a crucial moment, but we are very young. I think we have to improve our understanding of difficult moments in the game...
"I'm happy for the quality of the play, for the attitude of my players, for their bravery and courage. For the result, I'm sad but we have to improve. When you have younger players you have to improve and work."
For Arsenal, the result caps off a superb second half to 2022, with Mikel Arteta's side seven points clear of Manchester City in the title race and making a surprise push for a first title in 19 years.
Arteta said: "It's a big win against a really good side. We had big moments, especially attacking the spaces with the way they play. We were ruthless, clinical.
"We had some great moments, and also moments when we have to dig in and suffer. You expect that against Brighton. You can't expect to not concede anything with the way they play. It's a big test for us, but we win two in a row after the break and now on to the next one.
"I think we have enough desire. We know the other results, but we know our success will be from what we do.
"This is what we want to continue, to improve as a team and play better, to dominate all the areas like today. We had to suffer but we show we could manage the game."
At 4-2, Arsenal survived a nervy finish after a VAR intervention prevented the Seagulls reducing the deficit to 4-3 with a minute to play.
A fifth consecutive top-flight success for the north London club saw them take full advantage of nearest rivals Manchester City and Newcastle being held to home draws earlier in the day.
Despite the healthy position, head coach Arteta, whose side host the third-placed Magpies on Tuesday, said his squad were not getting carried away.
"It's still a long, long run to go," he said of the title race.
"My excitement comes when I go in the dressing room and the players are talking about what they should have done better today.
"And that means that they know that we can still play better and be better, and against Newcastle we have to be better.
"(It was a) big win, really happy, a really tough place to come."
