Arsenal’s perfect Premier League start came to an abrupt end on the south coast as Brighton swept Mikel Arteta’s side aside 3-0, exposing concerns that had flickered even during last weekend’s win at Sunderland.
Arteta’s team had opened the campaign with four straight league victories, but there was no disguising the gap between the sides at Brighton. The home side brought the sharper running, cleaner passing and greater purpose, while Arsenal struggled to establish any control before or after the interval.
David Raya had recently saved a penalty and has often been Arsenal’s last line of resistance, and he was again far from culpable for the scoreline. Indeed, the Spain goalkeeper made several saves that prevented an even heavier defeat. Yet he was beaten three times in one match, a rare occurrence during his Arsenal career.
Brighton make their pressure count
Brighton arrived buoyed by their midweek Carabao Cup elimination of Manchester United and carried that momentum into the league fixture. Their early energy repeatedly forced Arsenal backwards, although the hosts initially had to wait for their breakthrough.
Pascal Groß supplied it shortly after the half-hour. The experienced German bent an effort from outside the penalty area, the ball clipping the post on its way into the net.
Rather than protecting their lead, Brighton continued to press for another. Raya was called upon several times as Arsenal found little rhythm in possession and posed only a limited threat before the break.
There appeared to be a chance for Arsenal to get to half-time only one goal down and regroup, but Charalambos Kostoulas changed the shape of the afternoon. The young forward struck from distance and found the top corner, leaving Raya beaten again.
Arsenal cannot find a response
Arteta made no changes during the interval, but his side’s problems remained. Arsenal could not produce a sustained spell with the ball or a convincing route back into the contest.
Brighton’s third had a familiar Premier League sting to it: a corner delivered to the far post, Raya crowded out of the action, and a header from Chema. The 21-year-old midfielder came through Real Madrid’s academy before leaving the Spanish club.
Only then did Arteta turn to his bench. Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi were introduced, with both players set to join Spain’s squad for the upcoming three-week international break. Neither has yet become a regular feature of Arsenal’s starting line-up this season.
Viktor Gyökeres, Eberechi Eze and Dowman followed, but Arsenal could not beat Bart Verbruggen. Brighton’s goalkeeper had relatively little to do, though he dealt confidently with the occasions when Arsenal did manage to test him.
For Arsenal, the defeat underlined the warning signs seen at Sunderland, where they won but were troubled by the home side’s high-tempo approach. Brighton applied similar intensity and, this time, there was no escape.
The result guarantees Brighton will end the day in third place. Arsenal head into the international break second, although Manchester City can open a three-point gap over them by winning their fixture.
