Brighton stun Arsenal 3-0 to end unbeaten start

Brighton beat Arsenal 3-0 at the Amex Stadium on Saturday, ending Mikel Arteta's side's unbeaten start to the season after seven straight wins.

Pascal Gross and Charalampos Kostoulas scored from distance either side of a Bukayo Saka effort that Bart Verbruggen kept out, and Brighton were 2-0 up inside the first half. Fabian Hurzeler's side pressed Arsenal from the first minute, and the Gunners did not have a meaningful chance until the 44th minute. Chema Andres added a third with his first goal for the club nine minutes into the second half, finishing from a corner.

The scoreline, Sky Sports noted, flattered Arsenal rather than the other way round. Arteta's side had been chasing an eighth straight win to start a season, which would have been their best start to any campaign in 123 years.

The Evening Standard's player ratings singled out the back four. Jurrien Timber, making his first start since mid-March, was rated 3/10 and criticised for his marking of Andres for the third goal. Gabriel was also marked down to 3/10, docked a point for what the paper called an embarrassing dive under no contact. Declan Rice was the one bright spot, rated 6/10 for fighting a lone battle in midfield.

Arsenal added France defender Élisa De Almeida from PSG earlier this month to cover injuries ahead of the women's side's own trip to Brighton, while the men's squad has relied on a midfield reshuffle this season following recent injuries.

Arsenal remain top of the Premier League table on results elsewhere but must now respond to their first dropped points of the campaign, with the pressing collapse in defence the clearest issue for Arteta to address before the next fixture.