A man appeared to drive his car into another man in a Hove street in the early hours of this morning after an argument.
The hit and run happened in Church Road near the junction with Second Avenue shortly after 2am.
A 36-year-old man from Hove was getting into his car when he was hit.
He was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton where he was treated for a sprained ankle and bruising.
The other car drove away.
Less than an hour later officers from Sussex Police stopped a BMW 316 saloon car in Teville Road, Worthing.
They arrested a 23-year-old man on suspicion of trying to cause grievous bodily harm.
Detective Sergeant Dave Roughley said: “This appears to have been a deliberate attack and the victim’s injuries could easily have been much more serious.
“We are asking anyone who saw the incident or has any other information to contact us on 0845 6070999.”