It is a day to forget for Mikel Arteta as Arsenal were stunned by a world-class performance from Brighton.
Brighton extended their unbeaten home start to the campaign with a third straight victory on their own turf, while Arsenal suffered their first league defeat of the season.
Brighton started brightly and immediately put the visitors under pressure, with Charalampos Kostoulas forcing David Raya into an early save.
Arsenal had their chances as well, with Bruno Guimaraes firing into the side netting from a tight angle after the Gunners had worked their way forward. But Brighton looked the more dangerous side and finally broke the deadlock after 31 minutes.
An incredible afternoon for @BHAFC against the champions 👏 pic.twitter.com/6U6DzXofBZ
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 19, 2026
Pascal Gross was given space outside the box and made Arsenal pay, curling a brilliant effort beyond Raya and into the corner for his third league goal of the season.
Arsenal had a golden opportunity to respond before half-time when Bukayo Saka found himself in space inside the box, but his effort went straight at Bart Verbruggen.
Brighton immediately punished the miss. Kostoulas was given too much time on the edge of the area and took full advantage, firing a low strike into the bottom corner to double the hosts’ advantage just before the break.
Arsenal needed a major response after the interval, but Brighton continued to control the game.
The Seagulls added a third in the 57th minute when Gross delivered a dangerous corner and Chema Andres rose above the Arsenal defence to head home his first goal for the club. The goal left Arsenal with a mountain to climb, and Mikel Arteta’s side struggled to find a way back into the contest.
Viktor Gyokeres was introduced from the bench and later found Kai Havertz with a through ball, but Verbruggen stuck out a leg to deny the German and preserve his clean sheet.
Raya was also forced into another important save late on as Brighton searched for a fourth, but the hosts eventually settled for a famous 3-0 victory.
The result moves Brighton up to third with 10 points, while Arsenal remain on 12 points alongside Manchester City. It also extends Brighton’s remarkable run of beating the reigning Premier League champions at home to three consecutive seasons.
It was going to take something special to halt @Arsenal. @BHAFC provided just that. pic.twitter.com/N4YnlUeB2a
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 19, 2026
For Arsenal, their run of seven successive wins in all competitions has come to an end, with Arteta now facing an international break to address a performance that left his side well beaten on the south coast.
