Arteta admits Arsenal were taught a lesson as Brighton end perfect start with 3-0 win
Mikel Arteta said Arsenal were taught a lesson after Brighton beat his side 3-0 in a Premier League match on Saturday, ending Arsenal’s 100% start to the season. The manager described the defeat as a humbling experience and conceded Brighton deserved the victory.
Arsenal had opened the campaign with nine straight league wins and had been crowned champions for the first time in 22 years in May, but the loss halted that run. Not since 10 May 2023 — 1,224 days earlier — when the same opponents won 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium had the reigning champions suffered a three-goal defeat. Arteta said his players were not their usual combative selves in the contest.
Brighton produced a comprehensive performance, with Pascal Gross, Charalampos Kostoulas and Chema Andrés all on the scoresheet to secure the three-goal margin. The visitors were second-best throughout the match and the three strikes completed a decisive victory. The scoreline marked a pronounced reversal of Arsenal’s early-season form.
Arteta criticised his side’s start to the game and highlighted specific moments of vulnerability. “From the first throw-in you could sense it, it was so clear,” he said. “We put ourselves in trouble one time, two times, three times and we need to get out of that much quicker than that. That’s one of the biggest lessons that we have to take from the game.”
He outlined the importance of the opening phase and the margin for error at this level. “We knew how tough it was going to be and the first thing we had discussed was about the first part. If you don’t get out of that first part as winners, it will be extremely difficult to dominate the game and to have any probability of winning the game. At this level, it’s extremely important to respect and to understand [that] before anything else.”
Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler singled out Gross’s contribution and framed the win as a collective effort. He compared the 35-year-old Gross to “a good wine” after he was instrumental in the win. Hürzeler added: “Everyone has this mindset today: ‘I need to defend first and we defend as a team.’”
Hürzeler also described the team’s approach to gaining momentum through small moments. “We wanted to approach this game by getting small wins. Everyone speaks about a goal is a win, but a small win can be the first throw in, the first corner, win the first header, win the first tackle. If you win these small steps, if you celebrate them individually as a win then you can grow into the game. Then you can gain bigger and bigger wins.”
Brighton have recorded victories over the reigning champions in each of the past three seasons, and with 16 goals from five matches they are all but certain to go into the international break as the division’s top scorers. That goalscoring form underpinned a result that ended Arsenal’s unbeaten start.
Arteta said his side had discussed their preparations in detail and acknowledged the emotional impact of the loss while pointing to the next match. “We know what it takes to win every single match and we know what it’s going to take to win against Leeds when we come back,” he said. “That’s not a surprise, but it doesn’t take away the disappointment and emotional state we have.”