Arsenal's winning run ends in 3-0 Brighton defeat

Arsenal's perfect start to the season was shattered by a 3-0 home defeat to Brighton. The result ended a nine-match Premier League winning streak that dated back to last season and was their first league loss in over three years.

Brighton's goals came from Pascal Groß, Charalampos Kostoulas and Chema Andrés in a clinical first-hour display. Despite having 62% possession after halftime, Arsenal created little of note and were punished for defensive lapses. The visitors' three goals came from an expected goals total of just 1.31, highlighting their efficiency, while Arsenal's xG of 1.63 yielded nothing.

Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler outlined his team's approach. "We wanted to win the small battles first," he said. "Win the first header, win the first tackle, win the first throw-in, win the first corner."

The defeat means Arsenal drop to second in the Premier League with 12 points from five games. They are now three points behind leaders Manchester City. Brighton's victory moved them up to third place on 10 points.

Injuries and fitness played a part. Arsenal were without the defensive pairing of William Saliba and Ben White. Key players like Martin Ødegaard, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka were also not at full fitness following their World Cup exertions. The squad's depth will be tested ahead of the next match, with the latest injuries list showing who is available.

Mikel Arteta's side must regroup before hosting Leeds United on 10 October. Leeds sit fifth, making it another significant test. Arsenal's overall form remains strong with four wins from their last five, and they are two points better off than at the same stage last season when they went on to win the title. Bukayo Saka leads the team's scoring charts with three goals this campaign, a detail you can explore further on the club's stats page. The immediate focus is on halting the slide and responding against Leeds at the Emirates.

More detail at theguardian.com