Arteta admits Arsenal 'didn't do the basics' as Brighton end Gunners' unbeaten run

Brighton dismantled Arsenal 3-0 at the Amex Stadium on Saturday, ending the Gunners’ unbeaten start to the Premier League season and leaving Mikel Arteta with pointed criticism for his own players.

Pascal Gross opened the scoring before Charalampos Kostoulas doubled Brighton’s lead, and Chema Andres sealed the result in the second half. Arsenal managed just one shot on target across the entire afternoon.

“Brighton deserved to win the game,” Arteta said after the final whistle. “We didn’t do the basics right for long periods, especially in the first half. We didn’t win enough duels, and any second balls — that stretches you. With the errors that we made and especially with the principles we didn’t apply against a team that wants to press you, that puts us constantly under pressure.”

Arteta acknowledged the defeat carried a broader lesson, describing Arsenal’s recent form as “expectational” before adding: “Today has been a big lesson. When you miss chances like we did it becomes impossible.”

The result drops Arsenal to second in the table, and they could find themselves three points behind Manchester City before the first international break of the campaign even concludes.

Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler was understandably buoyant, calling it “a special win — not only because we played the best team in England but because of the performance.” He highlighted the intensity his side brought to every duel and praised the collective trust within his squad. “We were horrible to play against,” he said. “After wins like this we have to stay humble and understand why we had this win.”

The Seagulls sit just one place below Arsenal in the table following the victory, underlining the scale of the setback for a side that had looked like genuine title contenders through the opening weeks of the season.