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So much for the new Invincibles. Arsenal were brought back down to earth with a shuddering bump by a scintillating display from Brighton as Fabian Hürzeler’s vibrant side celebrated the club’s 125th anniversary in style.
The special edition shirts they wore to mark the occasion will end up being collector’s items after the Premier League champions were ripped apart. Arsenal were attempting to record an eighth successive victory in all competitions to start the new campaign for the first time since 1903 when they were still known as Woolwich Arsenal.
Instead, Brighton – inspired by first-half goals from the veteran stand-in captain, Pascal Gross, and the exciting teenager Charalampos Kostoulas – find themselves two points behind Arsenal and in third place.
New signing Chema Andrés made the points safe from a corner 12 minutes into the second half. Having conceded three goals for the first time since December 2023 in all competitions, Arsenal will be concerned that it could easily have been more against the division’s top scorers – who have racked up 16 in five games.
The home supporters waved blue and white flags before kick off as the players swapped their usual kits for a deep blue limited edition shirt that was inspired by their first season in Southern League Division Two in 1901. That has caused controversy among fans after originally being listed on sale for £150 in a package that included a letter of authenticity from the club owner, Tony Bloom, and a keyring. Given this is the only time they will wear it, those who shelled out will be pleased they did.
What has made Brighton’s goalscoring exploits so impressive is they have managed it almost completely without their first-choice attack due to injury, while last year’s top scorer, Danny Welbeck, was sold to Chelsea in the summer. Georginio Rutter returned as a late substitute, but the damage had already been inflicted by then thanks to Gross and Kostoulas.
Jurriën Timber looked leggy on his first start since March and Bruno Guimarães was disappointing on his first Premier League start for Arsenal. Myles Lewis-Skelly’s energy and drive in midfield was sorely missed in the week he was recalled to the England squad.
From the first whistle, Kostoulas – signed last summer for £30m – led Brighton’s fearsome press that provoked Arsenal into a number of uncharacteristic errors, including a misplaced pass from Guimarães that forced David Raya to tip a deflected effort from the 19-year-old around the post. Raya was also guilty of giving possession to the lively Yasin Ayari in a dangerous position. Arsenal looked rattled for the first time this season.
Christos Tzolis could not take a rare opportunity on the break after being picked out by Bukayo Saka and they were made to pay for it just after the half-hour mark. Perhaps wary of the unmarked Ayari to their left, Gabriel Magalhães and Riccardo Calafiori were slow to challenge Gross when he received the ball on the edge of Arsenal’s area from Kostoulas. The veteran picked his spot perfectly off the inside of the post.
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Ayari came close to doubling the lead five minutes before half-time when he fired into the side-netting before Kostoulas did. Saka had just spurned a great chance to equalise after being set up by Martin Ødegaard and once again Gabriel was guilty of ball watching as the Greek striker thumped the ball past Raya from 25 yards.
Mikel Arteta immediately sent out Max Dowman, who scored two goals against Ipswich in midweek, to warm up. He must have been tempted to throw the 16-year-old on at the start of the second half as Kostoulas went close again for Brighton.
It was too late once Andrés nodded in at the far post from a pinpoint Gross corner. “Are you Tottenham in disguise?” sang the delighted Brighton fans, who could barely believe how easy it all was.
Arteta introduced Dowman with 10 minutes remaining as he emptied his bench. But having been knocked off the top of the Premier League on goal difference courtesy of this heavy loss, there will be plenty of soul-searching during the three-week international break for the Arsenal manager.
