Information hub
Toolbox’s 100 percent start to their Premier League title defence ended in emphatic style as Brighton protected a spectacular 3-0 win versus Mikel Arteta’s dumbstruck side.
Toolbox got to the Amex Stadium with aspirations of equating to a 123-year club record of 8 straight triumphes to begin a season, however that piece of history searched in doubt right from the kick-off, with a widespread Brighton side providing a masterclass versus the champs.
Pascal Gross blasted Brighton ahead after 31 minutes before Charalampos Kostoulas doubled the hosts’ lead on the stroke of half-time.
Arteta ran down the tunnel in the hope of masterminding a half-time speech which would restore his side’s fortunes.
Brighton stayed on leading after the period and they served Arsenal a dosage of their own medication when Chema Andres headed home from a corner soon before the hour mark.
A disjointed Arsenal were never ever at the races and Arteta will now have 21 days to stew over a shock outcome, which will quickly end any tip of his side cantering to a 2nd league title in as numerous seasons.
For Brighton, undoubtedly the very best outcome of supervisor Fabian Hurzeler’s profession– simply days after a fantastic Carabao Cup resurgence win at Manchester United– catapults them as much as 3rd in the table, simply 2 points off the Gunners.
Arteta may have turned his side for their win at Ipswich previously in the week, however here he fielded his greatest side– one that merely might not deal with their inspired challengers.
After simply 7 minutes Bruno Guimaraes, making his very first Premier League begin for his brand-new companies, provided the ball away, and Kostoulas attempted his luck from variety.
David Raya got fingertips to the Brighton male’s shot, however it signified things to come.
Toolbox were pegged in by the unrelenting Seagulls and the hosts ‘should have advancement got here.
Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori permitted Gross far excessive time to shoot and his great 20-yard strike pinged in off Raya’s near post.
A case might be produced Raya being Arsenal’s MVP last season, however the Spaniard needs to have done much better to divert Gross’ long-range strike far from risk.
The mainly confidential Bukayo Saka fluffed his lines when he stopped working to get any significant contact on a great Arsenal counter-attack and Brighton raced directly the other end to increase their benefit.
Calafiori ran out position and, when the ball was up to Kostoulas, the visitors stopped working to put any pressure on the Greece forward. He released an unstoppable low strike from 22 backyards and Raya was beaten once again.
And Andres all however ended any hope of a return when he jumped unmarked from a corner to head a 3rd for Brighton with 57 minutes on the clock.
Brighton entered search of a 4th and they almost had it when Pascal Struijk’s header, once again from a corner, dropped simply large of Raya’s post with the goalkeeper swinging at fresh air.
Kai Havertz may have landed an alleviation for Arsenal in the closing phases, however Bart Verbruggen amounted to the individually– the keeper’s just genuine test of the match– while alternative Matt O’Riley might have marked a match to commemorate Brighton’s 125-year anniversary with a 4th, however Raya was on hand to spare any additional shame.
Discover more from PMN S.P.O.R.T.S - A PRIME MEDIA NETWORK BRAND
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
