Brighton 3-0 Arsenal: Mikel Arteta's side lose for first time this season as impressive hosts thrash defending champions
Arsenal's winning start to the season came to a brutal end as brilliant Brighton secured a stunning 3-0 victory - and even that scoreline flattered Mikel Arteta's side.
The Gunners were chasing an eighth straight victory to start their season - and their best start to any campaign in 123 years - but were given a lesson in commitment and quality from the first minute from Fabian Hurzeler's team.
As Brighton pressed Arsenal into submission, long-range strikes from Pascal Gross and Charalampos Kostoulas put the Seagulls 2-0 up at half-time. Both Brighton players couldn't believe their luck at how much space they had.
The second strike from Kostoulas was a particularly sucker punch as it came 15 seconds after Bukayo Saka saw a close-range effort for an equaliser well-saved by Bart Verbruggen. It also showed how Arsenal took 44 minutes to have a meaningful chance.
And it got even better for Brighton nine minutes after half-time. Chema Andres got his first Brighton goal as he headed in Gross' corner at the far post, amid poor Arsenal marking.
Brighton could have added to their lead as Arsenal could not get out of their own half to fashion anything. Pascal Struijk nearly got a fourth but headed wide from a corner that David Raya came and failed to get. Then Matt O'Riley saw a one-on-one saved by Raya, then Malick Yalcouye hit the woodwork at the rebound.
The result sees brilliant Brighton move up to third in the table, two points behind Arsenal. Meanwhile, Manchester City can go into the lengthy international break three points clear at the top of the Premier League with a win over Sunderland on Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports.
More to follow...
6: BIG SAVE! Arsenal are under the cosh straight away as Kostoulas' deflected shot is tipped behind by Raya.
30: GOAL! Brighton deservedly lead as Gross curls in a stunning effort from distance off Raya's near post.
39: CHANCE! Brighton continue their dominance as Yasin Ayari blasts into the side netting after being teed up by Ferdi Kadioglu.
44: BIG ARSENAL CHANCE! Arsenal break in huge numbers and Martin Odegaard's effort is deflected into Saka's path, but his close-range effort is saved by Verbruggen.
45: GOAL! Fifteen seconds later, Brighton double their lead as Kostoulas' long-range drive finds the bottom corner.
52: RED CARD? On a booking, Kadioglu goes down under Riccardo Calafiori's challenge in the box, but is not booked a second time for simulation. No dive is given.
56: GOAL! Arsenal's task becomes even greater as Andres nods home from Gross' corner.
68: SO CLOSE! As Arsenal struggle to get out, Brighton nearly get a fourth as Raya fails to come for a corner and Struijk heads wide.
77: GOOD SAVE! Kai Havertz breaks clear for a huge chance on goal but Verbruggen makes the save.
80: WIDE! Substitute Georginio Rutter fires wide at the far post after a shot is played into his path.
89: BIG SAVE AND BAR! How have Brighton not added another? O'Riley runs through on goal but Raya saves, then Yalcouye strikes the bar from a tight angle at the rebound.
Paul Merson on Soccer Saturday:
"Brighton have been absolutely unbelievable.
"We have a bad habit in England where, if one of the big boys get beat, we always blame it on their performance and not on the other team.
"No, these have been absolutely outstanding. They've made Arsenal look poor."
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19 of September 2026
