Brighton beat Arsenal 3-0 at Amex while Spurs lose 3-2 to Villa
Arsenal's Premier League title defence suffered a 3-0 defeat by Brighton at the Amex on Saturday (September 20, 2026), and Tottenham remained winless after a 3-2 loss to Aston Villa.
Arsenal had arrived on the south coast having won all seven games in all competitions this season, but Brighton maintained their fine start and went into the match full of confidence after coming from 2-0 down to beat Manchester United at Old Trafford in the League Cup in midweek—the first side to do so there in 50 years. It is the third consecutive season the Premier League champions have lost at the Amex after Liverpool and Manchester City did so in the past two years.
Brighton opened the scoring on 31 minutes when Pascal Gross crashed a shot in off the inside of the post, and Charalampos Kostoulas added a second just before half-time after Arsenal allowed space on the edge of their area. Chema Andres headed in Gross's corner on the hour mark inside the six-yard box for Brighton's third, which the report noted was the club's 16th goal in five league games this season.
"Brighton deserved to win the game. We didn't do the basics right for long periods," said Mikel Arteta. "It's a big lesson for us to learn. How the team has played and competed in the last six or seven weeks has been expectational, but today has been a big lesson."
"It was a special win. Not only because we played the best team in England but because of the performance," said Fabian Hurzeler. "I am really proud of my team."
Tottenham fell 3-2 to Aston Villa and will spend the upcoming three-week international break in the relegation zone after conceding three first-half goals. Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki produced a string of saves, Johan Manzambi slotted the visitors ahead at the end of the first half, Nicolas Jackson added a second and Emi Buendia struck a brilliant goal to make it 3-0 before Conor Gallagher and Jan Paul van Hecke scored late consolations for Spurs. "We played well in the first half, we didn't score, but [we are] too fragile," said Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi. "The moment when we have to defend, we have to defend compact. The leaders have to be leaders and to lead the team."
Elsewhere, Coventry beat Nottingham Forest 1-0 with Jay Dasilva scoring the only goal to give the Sky Blues their first Premier League win for 25 years. Newcastle ended newly-promoted Hull's unbeaten start with two early goals from Joe Willock and Lewis Hall inside the first seven minutes before Mohamed-Ali Cho pulled one back and Konstantinos Tzolakis saved Yoane Wissa's penalty. Everton climbed to fifth after a 1-0 win over 10-man Ipswich; Thierno Barry scored the only goal, had another ruled out by VAR, and Abdul Fatawu received a second yellow card for diving.
The defeat was Arsenal's heaviest in any competition since April 2023, and Tottenham could drop to the bottom of the table if Fulham avoid defeat against Manchester United on Sunday (September 20, 2026).
