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Brighton are on the brink of European qualification, to the detriment of Arsenal’s title hopes, after a 3-0 win at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
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The defeat leaves Arsenal (81 points – 2nd place) four points behind Manchester City, with the two-time defending Premier League champions still three games to play, against Arsenal’s two. A home win over Chelsea this Sunday (11am ET) will see Manchester City clinch three consecutive PL titles – provided Arsenal win to stay mathematically in the hunt on Saturday.
Three extra points put Brighton (58 points) in pole position for 6th place and a spot in next season’s Europa League. The Seagulls are already one point above both Tottenham and Aston Villa, with two games remaining. Liverpool in 5th place are four points ahead after having played one game so far.
WATCH ARSENAL vs BRIGHTON FULL MATCH REPEAT
Brighton got off to a slower start on Sunday with just one shot in the first half hour of play before Roberto De Zerbi’s side got a foothold and started to push back. After 35 minutes the tide started to turn and indeed it was Brighton who broke the deadlock shortly after the break.
For all the fine possession on display, it was a mishit, a bouncing header from six yards out that finally did the trick for Brighton. Pervis Estupinan’s cross was given a big bounce to clear the defender at the near post to find Julio Enciso, who had perched himself on top of the six yards, for a simple header past Aaron Ramsdale.
The second goal came on 87 minutes as Arsenal made widespread changes and pushed for an equaliser. A poor giveaway turned into a swift transition moment for the Premier League’s preeminent transition team. Finally, Deniz Undav lifted the ball over Ramsdale and rolled away falling back to the ground and bouncing over the goal line.
Estupinan sent the away supporters into delirium again in the 95th minute, as Undav saved his first shot, but the ball bounced to the Ecuador international, who lifted it over the flailing Ramsdale for a more emphatic final header. Seagulls on European tour.
End-of-season collapses become an Arsenal theme
The Gunners had an eight-point lead on April 1, just six weeks ago, with only nine games left (one game left at the time). Since then Mikel Arteta’s side has become 2W-3D-2L. Last season they were in the driver’s seat for 4th place and a return to the Champions League before losing five of their last 10 games, including the crucial decision away to rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
There is no doubt that progress has been made this season in terms of results as they have moved up from 69 points to 81 (with two games left to play). But the young side’s mentality has taken another serious blow as they see eight months of hard work haunted for a second season in a row. Spurs-y.
Stars of the show
What’s next?
Arsenal will continue their pursuit of Manchester City this Saturday (12:30pm ET), when they visit the City Ground to take on Nottingham Forest. Brighton will return to action on Thursday (2:30 PM ET), as they make up their postponed game to Newcastle.
Arsenal vs Brighton, final score: 0-3
51st minute – Julio Enciso goes home from close range to give Brighton the lead
A stunned silence falls over the home fans as Brighton take the lead!
📺: @USANetwork | #ARSBHA pic.twitter.com/6vDIgGlY0Q
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) May 14, 2023
86th minute – Deniz Undav chips in Aaron Ramsdale to make it 2-0, ending Arsenal’s title hopes
Undav Chips Ramsdale!
Is that it for Arsenal’s title hopes?
📺: @USANetwork | #ARSBHA pic.twitter.com/OlSC2H9dPF— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) May 14, 2023
90th minute +5 – Pervis Estupinan adds goal No. 3, icing on the cake
How to watch Arsenal vs Brighton live, stream link and start time
Kickoff: 11:30am ET, Sunday
TV channel: USA Network
Online: Stream at NBCSports.com
Main storylines and star players
Arsenal returned to winning ways with wins over Chelsea and Newcastle last week, but not before taking just three points from four games without a win saw Mikel Arteta’s side lose the stranglehold on the title race. No other side in the Premier League has four players with double-digit goals this season as Martin Odegaard (15), Gabriel Martinelli (15), Bukayo Saka (13) and Gabriel Jesus (10) are the Premier League’s No. 2. file.
Brighton may not have the numbers to match Arsenal’s firepower, but the Seagulls have all of the free-flowing swagger they’ve become synonymous with under Roberto De Zerbi and Graham Potter. The final time-out was anything but pretty, however, as relegation-battling Everton put five past Brighton on their home pitch in arguably the most mind-boggling result of the PL season.
Arsenal team news, injuries, line-up options
OUT: Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf), William Saliba (back), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee), Mohamed Elneny (knock)
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
🧱 Tierney begins
🪄 Odegaard in the middle
💨 Jesus is leading the wayLET’S GO GUNNERS!! 💪 pic.twitter.com/F7xiFXExgc
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 14, 2023
Brighton team news, injuries, line-up options
OUT: Tariq Lamptey (knee), Solly March (thigh), Jeremy Sarmiento (ankle), Adam Lallana (thigh – out for season), Jakub Moder (knee), Joel Veltman (hamstring)
TEAM. 💙 Here’s our starting eleven taking on Arsenal in the #PL this afternoon! 📝
📲 https://t.co/S3j1TIedJv // #BHAFC 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/k5sYFxt02x
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) May 14, 2023
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