Tactics Column: Why defeat at Brighton was deceiving

Arsenal suffered their first defeat of the season in a 3-0 Premier League loss against Brighton on Saturday. The result marked the first time Arsenal were defeated by three goals since May 2023, and it ended a 72-game Premier League streak without trailing by two goals. Mikel Arteta's side struggled early, failing to register a shot or a touch in the opposition penalty area during the opening 15 minutes of the match.

Despite the poor start, Arsenal stabilized and gained momentum before Pascal Gross scored from distance against the run of play. Charalampos Kostoulas then doubled Brighton's lead shortly before half-time, following a squandered scoring opportunity by Arsenal. The tactical analysis highlighted issues with Arsenal's defensive moments, counter-attacking efficiency, and chance creation throughout the fixture.