Goals from Julio Enciso, Deniz Undav and Pervis Estupinan ensured a deserved win for Brighton on Sunday, all-but handing Man City the title in the process.
After a competitive opening full of heavy challenges, it was Brighton who’d have the first notable shot on goal with Julio Enciso dancing around Jakub Kiwior before forcing Aaron Ramsdale into a smart save at his near post.
Arsenal began to really dominate the game thereafter, winning the ball back off of Brighton in the final third on a number of occasions. One of these occasions would almost lead to the opening goal, with Alexis Mac Allister being dispossessed by Martin Odegaard, before the Norwegian thread the ball through to Gabriel Jesus on the right of the penalty area. From an ever-increading angle, Jesus was able to force Jason Steele into a save with his feet.
On the half-hour mark the Gunners would come even closer to opening the scoring when substitute Leandro Trossard – on for the injured Gabriel Martinelli – cut in from the left flank and cannoned the ball off of the crossbar.
At the start of the second half, Arsenal were made to rue those missed chances when Enciso gave his side a 1-0 lead. The talented youngster reacted first to a volleyed Pervis Estupinan cross from the left to head home the opening goal – despite being 5’6.
The Gunners pressed forward with real intent after going behind, with substitute Reiss Nelson cutting in from the left and drilling just wide of the post in the 63rd minute.
Seven minutes later Trossard would come close after he was found with a lovely through ball from Odegaard. His first time effort from just inside the penalty area however, was well gathered by Steele.
After these chances were spurned, and despite Mikel Arteta firing every attacker on the Gunners’ books on the pitch, Brighton were very comfortable for the rest of the game.
They were so comfortable in fact, that they managed to double their lead through Deniz Undav.
The substitute capitalised on some sloppy play from Trossard and Aaron Ramsdale to latch onto a loose ball in the penalty box and beautifully dink the ball over the Arsenal goalkeeper and into the net.
In the 97th minute, Brighton added a misery-compiling third through Estupinan. The full-back was quickest to react to a save from Ramsdale to tap home and make it 3-0.
