Since bursting on the scene with two goals on his first Premier League start for Brighton, Aaron Connolly has found it tough to reach those heights again.
In the interim, he's made his Ireland debut and become a fixture in Graham Potter's Brighton plans before the season was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It was anticipated that his season was over when he injured his ankle ligaments in March, just before the season's suspension.
The break has allowed the Galway man to return to the Brighton fold, with Graham Potter remarking that he believes Connolly can make the difference in the run in as the Seagulls look to avoid relegation.
In Brighton's comeback victory over Arsenal, Connolly did just that.
The attacker was brought on for the last 20 minutes, and made a sublime first time pass to Neal Maupay to give Brighton their first win of the calendar year.
As you can see, every aspect of Brighton's winner was magnificent.
Of course, at Balls.ie, we're noted for our ability to see the future, so we're taking full credit for Connolly's impact on the match.
Aaron Connolly is on to save the game for Brighton. In just 6 Premier League games so far this week, he is the 4th Irish striker to see game time. #COYBIG
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) June 20, 2020
Connolly's genius for Maupay's winner was one of several flash points in a fraught game which saw Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno stretchered off following a clash with Maupay.
The French striker was then at the centre of a fracas at the end of the game, with Matteo Guendouzi and Sead Kolasinac getting in the face of the Brighton man.
Brighton's victory lifts them five points clear of the relegation zone with eight games remaining. However, both Bournemouth and Aston Villa have games in hand over the Seagulls.
Brighton are also four points ahead of Watford, the team who occupy 17th in the Premier League table. Nigel Pearson's charges looked to be staring defeat in the face in the early kick-off against Leicester City, with Chelsea target Ben Chilwell unleashing a rasping effort past Ben Foster in the Watford goal in the 92nd minute.
Of course, the Premier League is rarely straightforward. So, mere minutes later, Watford centre-back Craig Dawson equalised with a spectacular bicycle kick, thus lifting the Hornets out of the relegation zone.
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