Brighton humble Arsenal at the Emirates with 3-0 victory

Brighton delivered the final blow to Arsenal’s 2022/23 Premier League title hopes on Sunday at the Emirates Stadium as Roberto de Zerbi’s side handed the Gunners a chastening 3-0 defeat on their home turf in North London. Second-half goals from Julio Enciso, Deniz Undav, and Pervis Estupinan powered Brighton to an impressive 3-0 victory over win over Mikel Arteta’s side, keeping the Seagull’s European dreams alive but extinguishing Arsenal’s chances of ending their 19-year title drought.

On the back of Manchester City’s 3-0 win over Everton earlier in the day, Arsenal now trail Pep Guardiola’s side by four points, who can seal the title victory with a win against Chelsea next weekend.

It was an even contest in the first period between the two top-half sides. Former Brighton forward Leandro Trossard struck the bar after replacing the injured Gabriel Martinelli on 20 minutes, the Belgian letting fly from the penalty area after being released by Granit Xhaka. Brighton dominated the possession for the majority of the first period, but Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka went close for the Gunners before the break, firing inches wide of the post.

Paraguayan forward Julio Enciso troubled the Arsenal backline throughout the first half and eventually received his rewards six minutes into the second period to put the visitors in front. Left-back Pervis Estupinan picked out Enciso in the penalty area, and the 19-year-old nodded home from close distance to open the scoring.

The hosts brought on Emile Smith Rowe, Reiss Nelson, and Eddie Nketiah in their bid to claw themselves back in the contest, but the Gunners were punished for some sloppy play from the back by Brighton. Leandro Trossard’s misplaced pass rebounded into the path of Deniz Undav, who chipped a stranded Aaron Ramsdale to find the back of the net and put the game to bed in the 86th minute.

Pervis Estupinan compiled Arsenal’s misery in the final minute of injury time, capping off Brighton’s brilliant performance by firing in a rebound from an Aaron Ramsdale save to make it 3-0 to the Seagulls on the day.

The stands emptied heading into the final whistle as the last hopes of an Arsenal title challenge withered away, leaving Manchester City on the cusp of their fourth Premier League crown in the past five years. Brighton, meanwhile, continues to go from strength to strength under Roberto de Zerbi and have jumped into the European places, leapfrogging Tottenham into sixth with two games in hand over the North London outfit.