Updated / Saturday, 19 Sep 2026 17:04
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Chema Andrs jumps highest to score Brighton's third
Arsenal's 100 per cent start to their Premier League title defence ended in emphatic fashion as Brighton secured a stunning win against Mikel Arteta’s dumbstruck side.
Arsenal arrived at the Amex Stadium with ambitions of equalling a 123-year club record of eight straight victories to start a season, but that piece of history looked in doubt right from the kick-off, with a rampant Brighton side delivering a masterclass against the champions.
Pascal Gross blasted Brighton ahead after 31 minutes before Charalampos Kostoulas doubled the hosts’ lead on the stroke of half-time.
Arteta sprinted down the tunnel in the hope of masterminding a half-time speech which would revive his side’s fortunes.
Pascal Gross fired the hosts in front
But Brighton remained on top after the interval and they served Arsenal a dose of their own medicine when Chema Andres headed home from a corner shortly before the hour mark.
A disjointed Arsenal were never at the races and Arteta will now have 21 days to stew over a shock result, which will abruptly end any suggestion of his side cantering to a second league title in as many seasons.
For Brighton, surely the best result of manager Fabian Hurzeler’s career – just days after a brilliant Carabao Cup comeback win at Manchester United – catapults them up to third in the table, just two points off the Gunners.