Brighton v Arsenal LIVE: Mikel Arteta responds as champions thumped 3-0 in huge Premier League shock

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler speaking to Match of the Day after a “special win” for his team:

“Not only because we played the best team in England but because of the performance. I am really proud of my team. It’s always important to enjoy these moments. We were horrible to play against.

“Intensity, intensity, winning the personal duels. We have to have the belief to compete with the best teams in the league. My players really trust each other on the pitch. If one player is out then another can replace him.

“Overall we wanted to be really good in every phase. We needed to be at the highest level. We go game by game. After the international break we have a lot of games. After wins like this we have to stay humble and understand why we had this win. We have to keep on going.”

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live after the 3-0 defeat ot Brighton:

“Two things: one give credit to them. In the manner that they played and committed to every single action. We were below the standards that are required for us but in the Premier League as well.

“When you miss chances like we did it becomes impossible. I want to congratulate Brighton for what they’ve done. It’s a big lesson for us to learn. If I have to describe how the team has played and competed in the last six or seven weeks, has been expectational but today has been a big lesson.

“I think we were very far from our level. The international break means we have more time to swallow because it’s very, very painful. In any game you can get highly exposed if don’t do what you need to do.”

Declan Rice avoided a red card for kicking out at Brighton’s Malick Yalcouye in the final seconds of his team’s heavy 3-0 defeat in the Premier League.

The England midfielder lashed out after being closed down by Yalcouye, swiping at his opponent’s legs after he had passed the ball towards the wing.

Yalcouye fell to the turf and appealed towards referee Darren England, who saw the incident and gave Rice a yellow card.

But Rice could consider himself lucky that he escaped further punishment after incidents involving Manchester City’s Phil Foden and Aston Villa’s Joao Gomes this season.

Foden was sent off for kicking out at Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes last weekend, while Gomes received red following a VAR review for kicking Brighton’s Georginio Rutter.

Both of those incidents saw the offender kick up while lying with their back on the ground, while Rice’s kick came while he and Yalcouye were both running.

Yalcouye, a second-half substitute for Brighton, appeared to lean into Rice after the midfielder had passed the ball, leading to his trip on Yalcouye.

With Brighton leading 3-0 at the Amex, the match clock had ticked past the 96th minute when Rice lashed out after six minutes had been added on.

It is unclear whether the VAR checked the incident before referee England blew for full-time.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live after the 3-0 defeat ot Brighton:

“No complaints, because I think they deserve to win the game. It started by us not doing the basics right for long periods, especially a lot of the first half. That set the tone of the game.

“We didn’t win enough duels and that stretches you and gives you no option to dominate the game or the territory.

“On top of that when you regain that ball we were extremely poor, with the technical errors that we made and especially with the principles that we didn’t apply against a team that wants to press you man to man, so that puts us constantly under pressure and we didn’t get out of that in the way that we normally do.

“So a lot of things to learn, obviously, and to take and I’m very disappointed.”

Arsenal had started the season with seven consecutive victories but they were battered and beaten from the first minute by Brighton today.

Where did it come from? The Premier League’s best defence was ruthlessly torn to pieces while there was no fight in midfield and no spark in attack.

It will be a long three weeks for Mikel Arteta. He won’t have the chance to get the taste of this defeat out of his mouth until Arsenal host Leeds on Saturday 10 October.

A memorable day for Brighton as they celebrate their 125th anniversary by thrashing the champions at home. What a week, too, after knocking Manchester United out of the Carabao Cup in midweek from two goals down. The only regret from Fabian Hurzeler’s side is their performance deserved four or five goals, but they will settle for three.

Up to third in the Premier League, they have scored 16 goals in their first five games, double the amount of Arsenal’s eight and six clear of the next-best side, which is Chelsea.

That is that. What a performance from Fabian Hurzeler’s team, superb. They’re heading third in the Premier League after beating the champions by three goals.

What about Arsenal? They were off the pace from the very start today. A first defeat of the season and they can have no complaints.

In fact, it’s their heaviest Premier League defeat since Brighton won 3-0 at the Emirates in May 2023. Remarkable.

90 mins: Into stoppage time. A blip from Arsenal or a reality check? It will be fascinating to hear what Mikel Arteta says next.

89 mins: Another Brighton chance! Superb football between Rutter and O’Riley but Raya is there to make the save. Yalcouye follows it on but hits the bottom of the post.

It seriously could have been 4-0.

87 mins: Almost four! De Cuyper’s cross flies in and finds Matt O’Reilly at the back post. It hits the midfielder in the face and lands into the hands of Raya.