Arsenal suffered the first defeat of their Premier League title defense in shocking fashion on Saturday, as the Gunners were hit early and often by a brilliant Brighton side at Amex Stadium.
MORE — Mikel Arteta reaction
The defeat and the lopsided scoreline sees Arsenal (12 points) drop out of top spot in the PL table, now behind Manchester City on goal difference (+4 to +6) after five games played. Man City will face Sunderland on Sunday (9 am ET) with a chance to go three points clear. Brighton (11 points) sit 3rd for the time being as we head into the upcoming three-week international break.
Long-range strikes from Pascal Gross and Charamalmpos Kostoulas set Brighton on their way in the first half and 21-year-old summer signing, midfielder Chema Andres, headed home a corner kick from the doorstep just before the hour mark.
Brighton vs Arsenal final score: 3-0
Goalscorers: Pasal Gross (31'), Charalampos Kostoulas (45'), Chema Andres (57')
Kickoff time: 10am ET Saturday, September 19
Venue: Amex Stadium — Brighton and Hove
TV Channel: USA
Stream link: Watch on USA
Well, that one will look familiar to Arsenal’s players, coaches and fans. David Raya complained that he was fouled as the ball went up, but the referee wasn’t having any of it. Brighton have been brilliant. Arsenal, absolutely average, at best.
WHAT A DAY BRIGHTON ARE HAVING!
— USA Sports (@usasports) September 19, 2026
THEY LEAD THE CHAMPIONS 3-0!
CHEMA ANDRES FROM THE CORNER 🔥 pic.twitter.com/IfpPVPjnea
Possession: 45-55
Shots: 8-3
On target: 3-1
xG: 0.32-0.52
Passes: 168-227
Brighton have landed a haymaker just before halftime. From one end of the field where they nearly conceded an equalizer on the counter, to 2-0 ahead from another sensational strike from outside the box. 19-year-old Charalampos Kostoulas had a look at goal from 25 yards out and didn’t hesitate to take his shot. Good thing, because he couldn’t have placed it any better at the far post.
THE 19-YEAR-OLD WITH A GORGEOUS GOAL PUTS BRIGHTON UP 2 AGAINST ARSENAL!
— USA Sports (@usasports) September 19, 2026
Charalampos Kostoulas, what a moment 🔥
🔴 Arsenal: 0
🔵 Brighton: 2
⏱️ 45’ pic.twitter.com/YHdbFSBAyL
The last 10 minutes had been much better for Arsenal as the pace of play slowed considerably and they had more of the ball than the opening 15-20 minutes, but they didn’t account for Pascal Gross unleashing a low laser from just outside the box. The 35-year-old German midfielder used every inch of space he had between Raya and the near post, pinging it off the inside of the woodwork to open the scoring. A fantastic strike.
OH IT'S SPECTACULAR!
— USA Sports (@usasports) September 19, 2026
PASCAL GROSS AND BRIGHTON STRIKE FIRST AGAINST ARSENAL!
🔴 Arsenal: 0
🔵 Brighton: 1
⏱️ 31' pic.twitter.com/NhjRn3w4Rz
Arsenal are desperately trying to find their footing in this game and gain some semblance of control through sustained possession, but Brighton simply refuse to allow it. They’re pressing and harrying every touch of the ball, and it’s working so far. Both sides are finding plenty of space on the counter-attack, but again that’s not the kind of game Arsenal want to play.
It has been all Brighton so far, with Arsenal barely able to get the ball out of their half of the field thus far. Brighton’s pressure has backed the Gunners all the way up to their own end line on multiple occasions, forced misplaced passes in their defensive third and nearly led to the opening goal, if not for a diving save by David Raya to push Charalampos Kostoulas’s shot just wide in the 7th minute.
The Seagulls are wearing a classic blue top to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the club being founded in 1901. Arsenal are in a classic of their own — red top with white shorts.
Raya - Timber, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori - Guimaraes, Rice, Odegaard - Saka, Tzolis, Havertz
Verbruggen - Kadioglu, Vuskovic, Struijk, Boscagli - Gross, Ayari, Andres - Gomez, De Cuyper, Kostoulas
OUT: William Saliba (back) | QUESTIONABLE: Cristhian Mosquera (thigh), Piero Hincapie (undisclosed)
OUT: Yankuba Minteh (ankle), Karou Mitoma (thigh), Jack Hinshelwood (undisclosed), Mats Wieffer (knee), Stefanos Tzimas (knee), Femi Azeez (thigh), Michael Svoboda (knee), Zadok Yohanna (undisclosed), Evan Ferguson (ankle)
