Arsenal will head into the international break licking their wounds after suffering a 3-0 defeat to Brighton on Saturday afternoon in the Premier League
Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, applauds the fans following the team's defeat at the end of the Premier League 2026/27 match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Arsenal FC
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal were demolished by Brighton 3-0(Image: Getty)
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Arsenal's unbeaten start to the season came to an abrupt end on Saturday as they were defeated by Brighton. Gunners fans will have to stew on that for three weeks as the Premier League goes on hiatus for an extended international break.
MikelArteta's side had begun their Premier League title defence perfectly, winning their first four top-flight games against Coventry City, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Sunderland. They also downed Napoli in the Champions League and eased past Ipswich Town in the Carabao Cup third round.
However, their trip to the South Coast ended in disaster as their nine-match league win streak was snapped. Goals from Pascal Gross, Charalampos Kostoulas and Chema Andres condemned Arsenal to a 3-0 defeat at the Amex.
Mikel Arteta's finger pointing
Before Saturday, Arsenal hadn't conceded three goals in a game since a December 2023 4-3 victory over Luton Town. Arteta blamed his players after the Brighton match, claiming they were error-ridden.
Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta reacts during the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Arsenal at the American Express Community Stadium
Arteta was not pleased after losing to the Seagulls(Image: Getty)
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He said: "Brighton deserved to win the game. We didn't do the basics right for long periods, especially in the first half. We didn't win enough duels and any second balls and that stretches you. With the errors that we made and especially with the principles we didn't apply against a team that wants to press you.
"So that puts us constantly under pressure and didn't get out of that in the way we normally do. So a lot of things to learn and take, but ultimately disappointed."
Paul Merson critiques Bruno Guimaraes
Summer signing Guimaraes started next to Declan Rice in the heart of midfield against Brighton, but endured a torrid time of things. He was replaced after 60 minutes by Mikel Merino and admitted post-match that it was a bad day at the office.
Arsenal's Brazilian midfielder #39 Bruno Guimarães is put under pressure by Brighton's Spanish midfielder # Chema Andrés during the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Arsenal at the American Express Community Stadium
Guimaraes only lasted an hour before being withdrawn(Image: Getty)
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Paul Merson, a Sky Sports pundit who played 423 games for the Gunners between 1985 and 1997, pulled no punches with his assessment of the £75million man. He said: "A million miles off it. I said at half-time he would come off, but he's stayed on for another 10 minutes or so. It was really quick for him. They closed him down.
"I don't care how good you are. If people get your head down and close you down and make you work, it's a leveller and that's what Brighton have done. They have been absolutely brilliant."
Guimaraes partnered Rice for the entirety of the second half during Arsenal's previous Premier League clash against Sunderland. Arteta pointed to this 2-0 success when assessing why the midfield change did not work.
"It worked extremely well when we played Sunderland away," he said. "Today, it didn't work for a lot of things that happened as well behind them to make sure that they could play a completely different game. That's something that will surely evolve. It's in its early stages. They only play together a few minutes and that relationship will for sure improve and give us a lot of joy."