Brighton end Arsenal’s perfect league start with 3-0 win

Brighton and Hove Albion ended Arsenal’s perfect start to the Premier League season with a 3-0 victory on Saturday.

Arsenal had won their first four league matches and conceded only once, but Brighton outplayed the defending champions to move into third place.

Pascal Gross opened the scoring with a strike that went in off the post. Brighton added two more goals to hand Arsenal their heaviest defeat in all competitions since a 3-0 home loss to the same opponents in May 2023.

Arsenal slip to second on goal difference

The result left Arsenal on 12 points from five matches. They dropped to second place on goal difference.

Brighton moved to 10 points from five games, strengthening their early-season position after an emphatic home performance.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said there were no excuses for the defeat and acknowledged that his team had been second best.

The loss brings Arsenal’s winning run to an abrupt end after an efficient opening month. Their response will be tested in the next round of fixtures as the title race begins to take shape.

League positions remain subject to change as the rest of the weekend programme is completed.