ARSENAL’S PERFECT START to their Premier League title defence came off the rails in a 3-0 thrashing by Brighton.
Mikel Arteta’s men arrived on the south coast in formidable form, having won all seven games in all competitions this season.
But it was Brighton’s fine start to the campaign that was maintained as goals from Pascal Gross, Charalampos Kostoulas and Chema Andres breached the Gunners’ normally impenetrable defence.
It is the third consecutive season that the Premier League champions have lost at the Amex, after Liverpool and Manchester City in the past two years.
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Brighton were full of confidence after becoming the first side in 50 years to come from 2-0 down to beat Manchester United at Old Trafford in the League Cup in midweek.
Fabian Hurzeler’s side went at Arsenal from the start but had to wait until 31 minutes for the opener when Gross crashed a shot in off the inside of the post.
Arsenal were punished for allowing too much space on the edge of their area again just before half-time when Kostoulas this time picked his spot to beat David Raya.
Rather than a rousing second-half response, the visitors fell further behind on the hour mark as Andres was afforded the space to head in Gross’s corner inside the six-yard box for Brighton’s 16th goal in five league games this season.
The defeat is Arsenal’s heaviest in any competition since April 2023.
Mikel Arteta said the loss was a “big lesson” for the defending Premier League champions.
“Extremely disappointed. First of all, I think we have to congratulate Brighton for the victory, I think they deserve it,” said Arteta.
“I think they were the better team. From our side, there were certain basics that you need to accomplish in football, especially in the Premier League, that we were very far from.”
The Gunners have been tipped to cruise to the title after ending their 22-year wait to be crowned champions of England last season.
But Arteta said defeat served as a timely reminder ahead of a three-week international break of how tough the season will be.
“It’s a big lesson for us,” added the Spaniard.
“That’s not going to take away what the team has done, and the boys have done in the last six or seven weeks since coming back from the World Cup.
“With 18 players coming back, what we’ve done and the way we’ve competed and the amount of games we’ve won has been remarkable.
“But this is a big lesson for all of us to understand what it takes to win at this level.”
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Brilliant Brighton stun Arsenal
Updated at 18.42
Premier League:
Brighton 3
Arsenal 0
ARSENAL’S PERFECT START to their Premier League title defence came off the rails in a 3-0 thrashing by Brighton.
Mikel Arteta’s men arrived on the south coast in formidable form, having won all seven games in all competitions this season.
But it was Brighton’s fine start to the campaign that was maintained as goals from Pascal Gross, Charalampos Kostoulas and Chema Andres breached the Gunners’ normally impenetrable defence.
It is the third consecutive season that the Premier League champions have lost at the Amex, after Liverpool and Manchester City in the past two years.
Brighton were full of confidence after becoming the first side in 50 years to come from 2-0 down to beat Manchester United at Old Trafford in the League Cup in midweek.
Fabian Hurzeler’s side went at Arsenal from the start but had to wait until 31 minutes for the opener when Gross crashed a shot in off the inside of the post.
Arsenal were punished for allowing too much space on the edge of their area again just before half-time when Kostoulas this time picked his spot to beat David Raya.
Rather than a rousing second-half response, the visitors fell further behind on the hour mark as Andres was afforded the space to head in Gross’s corner inside the six-yard box for Brighton’s 16th goal in five league games this season.
The defeat is Arsenal’s heaviest in any competition since April 2023.
Mikel Arteta said the loss was a “big lesson” for the defending Premier League champions.
“Extremely disappointed. First of all, I think we have to congratulate Brighton for the victory, I think they deserve it,” said Arteta.
“I think they were the better team. From our side, there were certain basics that you need to accomplish in football, especially in the Premier League, that we were very far from.”
The Gunners have been tipped to cruise to the title after ending their 22-year wait to be crowned champions of England last season.
But Arteta said defeat served as a timely reminder ahead of a three-week international break of how tough the season will be.
“It’s a big lesson for us,” added the Spaniard.
“With 18 players coming back, what we’ve done and the way we’ve competed and the amount of games we’ve won has been remarkable.
“But this is a big lesson for all of us to understand what it takes to win at this level.”
– © AFP 2026
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