Arsenal's perfect start to the Premier League season came to a stunning end as Brighton & Hove Albion secured a commanding 3-0 victory at the Amex Stadium on Saturday.
The defeat brought an end to Arsenal's nine-game winning run in the Premier League and marked their heaviest league loss since May 2023, when Brighton also recorded a 3-0 win over the Gunners.
Mikel Arteta's side arrived in Sussex in confident form, having won their opening four league matches and seven consecutive games across all competitions. However, they struggled to impose themselves as Brighton produced a disciplined and clinical display.
Pascal Gross broke the deadlock in the 31st minute, finding the bottom corner with a low effort that struck the post before going in.
Brighton doubled their advantage shortly before the interval when teenage forward Charalampos Kostoulas finished a swift counter-attack with a composed strike.
Arsenal were unable to mount a response after the break, and Chema Andrés put the result beyond doubt nine minutes into the second half. The midfielder rose to meet Gross's corner and headed home to complete the scoring.
The result not only ended Arsenal's unbeaten start but also saw them surrender top spot to Manchester City on goal difference. It was additionally Arsenal's first away defeat against Brighton since 2020.
Arteta was highly critical of his team's performance after the final whistle, saying his players had failed to "respect the game" and describing their technical display as "extremely poor."
For Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler, the victory capped a memorable week for the club. The Seagulls marked their 125th anniversary with a statement result that lifted them to third place on 10 points.
Brighton's emphatic performance ensured the anniversary celebrations at the Amex ended on a high, while Arsenal were left to reflect on a rare and costly setback.