Defending champions Arsenal tasted the first loss of their campaign following 3-0 loss to Brighton at Amex Stadium.
After securing convincing victories over Coventry City and Manchester United in their last two matches, the Seagulls started the game with confidence.
Brighton dominated the game due to Arsenal’s inability to cope with the vigor of the home team. In the 31st minute of the game, Pascal Gross gave the Seagulls a lead from an effort from the edge of the box which resulted in a post-deflection goal.
Arsenal had won their last nine league games and seven in all competitions at the beginning of the current campaign. The visitors were not given time to settle down as they seemed to be unusually jumpy on the ball.
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They created their best chance to get back into the game on a counter-attack just before half-time when Bukayo Saka failed to score from the ball that landed at his feet following Martin Odegaard’s deflection attempt in the penalty box.
Arteta made no substitutions in the half-time, seeking some kind of reaction from his team, which did not materialize as Chema Andres headed Brighton’s third 12 minutes into the second half from a Gross corner.
The goal was Brighton’s 11th in a week following five against Coventry and three in a 3-2 comeback victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup.
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— Brighton & Hove Albion (@BHAFC) September 19, 2026
The defender Pascal Struijk, who started his first Premier League match for Brighton since his summer move from Leeds, nearly got Brighton a fourth from a corner too but could not hit the target under pressure.
There was still time for a brief glimpse of a reply from Arsenal as Kai Havertz, but he fired straight at Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen when through on goal, while Matt O’Riley was saved at the other end by Raya.
The loss saw the reigning champions remain second in the table based on goal difference after playing a game more than leaders Manchester City who are due to play Sunderland on Sunday, while Brighton leapt to third place and just two points adrift of the leaders.
