Brighton’s high‑flying display shatters Arsenal’s unbeaten run
Arsenal’s unbeaten start to the campaign was snapped on Saturday as Brighton produced a comprehensive 3‑0 victory at the Amex Stadium, leaving the Gunners with ten men and handing Manchester City a chance to pull three points clear if they beat Sunderland later.
Arsenal’s unbeaten run ends
Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton side opened the scoring early, with Pascal Gross finding the net in the 12th minute. Charalampos Kostoulas doubled the lead before half‑time, and Chema Andres completed the rout in the second half. Goalkeeper David Raya produced an uncharacteristically shaky display, mis‑routing several clearances.
The Gunners entered the match having won seven of seven in all competitions, a run sparked by Bruno Guimaraes’ brace in a 2‑0 victory over Sunderland two weeks earlier. Mikel Arteta’s side had looked dominant, yet they struggled to create chances against a well‑organised Brighton defence.
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Veteran midfielder Pascal Gross, 35, returned from Borussia Dortmund in the summer and has already scored four Premier League goals, becoming the first player to net in three consecutive games this season with his 31st‑minute strike against Arsenal. His finish was described as ‘outstanding’ by pundits, and his leadership has been praised as filling the void left by the departures of Danny Welbeck and James Milner.
Arsenal’s response was limited, and in the dying moments Declan Rice was shown a red card for a reckless challenge on Brighton’s Malick Yalcouye, leaving the visitors with ten men. The dismissal came after a period of sustained pressure from the hosts, further dimming any hopes of a comeback.
Former striker Clinton Morrison was scathing of Arsenal’s defensive display.
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“Even David Raya who has been outstanding, he did make some important mistakes. It was very unusual, some of his distribution and stuff like that. Disappointing,” Morrison said.
He singled out Raya’s unusual distribution as a key factor in the loss.
Morrison also praised Gross’s impact.
“He’s been outstanding,” Morrison added of Gross. “When he left there and they managed to bring him back, I thought it was a great bit of business and he’s an outstanding player. That finish for the goal is outstanding.”
His comments highlighted the midfielder’s rare scoring streak.
Stuart Pearce, appearing alongside Morrison in the studio, noted that Gross’s arrival has helped fill the leadership void after the summer exits of Welbeck and Milner, describing him as a new role model in the dressing room. The former England defender said the Seagulls now have a clear leader on the pitch.
The defeat means Manchester City can claim a three‑point lead over Arsenal at the top if they defeat Sunderland at the Etihad later today. The north London side will look to bounce back after the international break when they host Leeds United at the Emirates.
Even with a ten‑man defence, Arsenal struggled to find any rhythm, underscoring the challenge of maintaining their early‑season momentum. They will need to tighten up quickly if they are to stay in the title race.