Premier League: Arsenal Title Hopes Crushed After Defeat by Brighton and Hove Albion

The flickering embers of Arsenal’s Premier League title dream had been all however extinguished as they suffered a 3-0 dwelling drubbing by Europe-chasing Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday.

With relentless Manchester City successful at Everton within the earlier kickoff to maneuver 4 factors clear, long-time league leaders Arsenal knew solely a victory would suffice.

But they produced a laboured show in opposition to the artful south coast membership and had been outplayed after the break as Julio Enciso, Deniz Undav and Pervis Estupinan all scored for Roberto De Zerbi’s facet who moved as much as sixth place.

Arsenal’s former Brighton ahead Leandro Trossard struck the crossbar within the first half, however Arsenal seemed deflated after Enciso struck within the 51st minute and crestfallen when Undav lobbed over Aaron Ramsdale within the 86th minute.

Estupinan accomplished Arsenal’s distress in stoppage time to the delight of Brighton’s followers who might quickly be watching the membership’s first enterprise into European competitors.

A fifth league defeat of the season left Arsenal on 81 factors with two video games remaining to City’s 85 with three left and victory for Pep Guardiola’s facet subsequent Sunday in opposition to Chelsea would wrap up City’s fifth title in six seasons.

They may safe it earlier than that although if Arsenal lose in opposition to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Brighton have 58 factors with 4 video games nonetheless remaining.

There was a touch of resignation within the air amongst Arsenal’s followers as they streamed in direction of the Emirates Stadium after listening to of Manchester City’s earlier victory at Everton — an eleventh successive league win for City.

And there was a lethargy about Arsenal’s play as Brighton set the tempo with their measured passing sport.

Arsenal weren’t helped by dropping ahead Gabriel Martinelli to harm halfway by the primary half after he did not shake off the results of a hefty Moises Caicedo deal with.

The Brazilian was changed by Trossard and he got here closest to breaking the impasse earlier than halftime with a shot that clipped the crossbar.

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard drilled a shot simply huge and Bukayo Saka did the identical in first-half stoppage time however Brighton hogged possession and had been at all times a menace with Enciso twice having a transparent sight of objective.

The dwelling followers tried to galvanise their staff however the temper fell flat six minutes after the interval as Brighton attacked down the left and after his preliminary cross was blocked, Estupinan lifted a ball into the realm for Enciso to go in.

Arsenal by no means seemed convincing as they tried to reply and shot themselves within the foot when Ramsdale handed the ball out to Trossard and his flick rebounded again in direction of objective and Undav had on a regular basis on the planet to dink a lob into the online.

With Arsenal in tatters, Estupinan then put the icing on Brighton’s cake, steering in a rebound after Ramsdale had parried Undav’s highly effective shot.