Arsenal’s 3-0 defeat by Brighton at Emirates Stadium has raised questions over whether Mikel Arteta’s side remain the leading contenders for the Premier League title, although Manchester City are only three points ahead after the opening five rounds.
The Gunners began the season as strong favourites after beating Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield. That result appeared to confirm expectations that Arsenal had strengthened significantly, while City faced a major rebuilding task.
However, Brighton exposed weaknesses that had not been evident in Arsenal’s opening matches.
Brighton overwhelm Arsenal
Fabian Hurzeler’s side deserved their victory, even if the final scoreline may have been harsher than the balance of play suggested. Brighton’s physical strength allowed them to press Arsenal high and effectively for much of the match.
The pressure repeatedly forced David Raya into mistakes when attempting to play the ball out from the back. Arsenal struggled to match Brighton’s intensity and were unable to adapt to the tempo set by the visitors.
The Gunners also appeared tired after a demanding start to the campaign. If fatigue was a factor, it raises questions for Arteta, who has been in charge of Arsenal for several years.
At the same time, physical problems could affect many leading European clubs this season. A large number of players appeared at the 2026 World Cup, which ended in the second half of July, leaving some footballers with almost no preparation before the new campaign began.
Injury concerns grow
Arsenal had already lost William Saliba to a serious injury before the season began. The centre-back’s partnership with Gabriel is regarded as one of the strongest in world football, so his absence was expected to have a significant impact. In practice, Arsenal had coped better than anticipated.
But Saliba is not the only concern. Several other players are also injured, while Kai Havertz sustained a problem during the international break and left the Germany camp. The extent of his injury remains unclear.
Martin Ødegaard also took a painful knock while playing for Norway. He was visibly limping after the match against Portugal and missed the national team’s training session on 29 September. His return date is not known, although reports have suggested that he will not be out for long.
Arsenal scored three unanswered goals against Coventry in the opening round of the Premier League after beating Manchester City. Since then, however, they have not scored more than twice in any of their following four league games. Their only meeting with another member of the “big six” ended in a 2-1 win over Chelsea.
Manchester City’s response has made Arsenal’s setback more significant. Written off after the Community Shield defeat, Enzo Maresca’s team have won their next seven matches, including five in the league.
Arsenal should not panic. Two of Brighton’s three goals came from distance, and the situation would have looked very different had the visitors led 1-0.
City currently lead the table, but the gap is only three points. Arsenal can reduce it after the international break with home fixtures against Leeds and Lille in the Champions League, followed by an away match at Nottingham Forest.
Manchester City face a trip to Liverpool and a home game against Ipswich, with a Champions League meeting with Paris Saint-Germain in between.
If Havertz and Ødegaard avoid serious problems, Arsenal’s prospects should improve. For now, City are their only clear title rival, while other contenders have yet to emerge.