Should Mikel Arteta Gunners worry after Brighton end perfect start

Brighton’s 3‑0 victory at the Amex Stadium ended Arsenal’s flawless start to the Premier League season, handing the Gunners their heaviest defeat in almost three years and raising fresh doubts over Mikel Arteta’s side, particularly their inability to convert set‑piece chances.

Brighton's dominance and recruitment

The Seagulls, currently the highest‑scoring team in the Premier League, jumped out to a 2‑0 lead by half‑time and saw Arsenal fail to find a reply, out‑performing their expected goals of 1.41 in the match.

Brighton’s squad depth reflects shrewd recruitment: 19‑year‑old Charalampos Kostoulas contributed a goal and an assist, while the return of Pascal Gross bolsters the midfield, and Fabian Hurzeler, the league’s youngest manager, now finds his side firmly in the title race.

Arsenal's attacking and set‑piece crisis

Before the game Arsenal had conceded only one goal in Premier League play, yet they allowed three against Brighton – their biggest loss in nearly three years – and managed just eight shots, none of which came from the five substitutes introduced.

The Gunners entered the match hoping striker Viktor Gyokeres, signed from Sporting Club Portugal, would deliver, but 16‑year‑old Max Downman was instead introduced to try and turn the tide.

This season Arsenal have taken 16 dead‑ball shots without scoring, a stark contrast to the previous campaign when 23 goals came from 177 such attempts.

According to Michael Caley of the Expecting Goals newsletter and Double Pivot Podcast, keepers now defend corners more aggressively, driving the average from .48 to .28 goals per match – the lowest rate since 2015‑16.

Implications for the title race

With the margins at the top of the Premier League now potentially fewer than five points between Arsenal and Manchester City, the loss adds pressure on Arteta, especially as City’s Erling Haaland remains a constant threat.

Relying on Kai Havertz and Gyokeres could become a liability if set‑piece productivity does not improve, and the defeat coming just before the international break gives the Gunners extra time to address the issues before the title race intensifies.