Arsenal's Perfect Start Ends With 3-0 Defeat at Brighton

Arsenal's perfect start to the Premier League season ended with a 3-0 defeat at Brighton on Saturday, September 20, 2026. The loss, Arsenal's first in any competition this campaign, halted a seven-game winning streak and exposed tactical vulnerabilities, particularly against high pressing and from set-pieces.

Goals from Pascal Gross, Charalampos Kostoulas, and Chema Andres secured a comprehensive victory for Brighton at the Amex Stadium. Gross opened the scoring in the 31st minute with a powerful strike that hit the inside of the post. Kostoulas doubled the lead just before halftime with a long-range effort. The result was sealed in the 60th minute when Andres headed in a Gross corner, a goal that highlighted a defensive weakness for Arsenal from dead-ball situations.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta acknowledged his team's shortcomings. "Brighton deserved to win the game. We didn't do the basics right for long periods," Arteta said. "It's a big lesson for us to learn."

The defeat was Arsenal's heaviest in any competition since April 2023. Brighton's aggressive high press disrupted Arsenal's build-up play, preventing them from playing through the lines and creating a sustainable...