Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes are all but over after losing 3-0 to Brighton and Hove Albion after putting up a woeful performance.
Arsenal were second-best in almost everything while Brighton were patient and purposeful in the way they approached this match.
Arsenal were forced into an early substitution when Gabriel Martinelli was forced off due to injury and replaced with Brighton’s former player Leandro Trossard who didn’t have much effect on the match except a shot that brushed off the crossbar shortly after coming on and another shot in the second half that went straight to Brighton’s goalkeeper.
Arsenal’s best chance in the first half was Bukayo Saka’s shot that went a few inches wide after Brighton had failed to clear their lines from a corner kick. On the other end, Kaoru Mitoma was causing problems for Arsenal’s full-back Ben White but the match managed to end goalless at the halftime break.
In the second half, Arsenal didn’t change much in the way they were playing which invited Brighton’s pressure, and the Seagulls got the opener through 19-year-old Julio Ensuco who was in the right place at the right time in the 51st minute to head home from close range.
Two more goals from Denis Undav and Pervin Estupinan in the 86th and 96th minutes respectively put the match to bed and dealt Arsenal’s title hopes a huge blow.
Should Arsenal lose against Nottingham Forest on Saturday next week, Manchester City, who comfortably won 3-0 against Everton earlier today, will be crowned champions before they even play Chelsea on Sunday. Manchester City will still be champions if they beat Chelsea no matter the result between Arsenal and Nottingham Forest.
