Defending champions Arsenal thrashed 3-0 by Brighton
Defending champions Arsenal suffered a stunning 3-0 defeat away at Brighton on Saturday, their first loss of the season, as Pascal Gross, Charalampos Kostoulas and Chema Andres struck to hand Mikel Arteta's side a heavy reality check at the Amex.
Arsenal had arrived on the south coast with a perfect record, having won all four of their opening Premier League fixtures, while Manchester City sat only a point behind them heading into the weekend's round of matches.
Brighton, celebrating their 125th anniversary and wearing a special kit inspired by their 1901 colours, had already announced themselves as one of the division's most dangerous attacking sides heading into this fixture.
Fabian Hurzeler's team arrived on the back of a 5-0 thrashing of Coventry City and a dramatic Carabao Cup comeback win over Manchester United, taking their tally to 13 goals from four matches, the most in the top flight.
Arteta made two changes to his starting eleven, handing first starts of the season to Bruno Guimaraes and Jurrien Timber, while Myles Lewis-Skelly dropped to the bench and Ben White missed out entirely through injury.
Brighton pressed with real intensity from the opening whistle, repeatedly forcing goalkeeper David Raya into uncomfortable clearances and uncharacteristically loose passes under pressure inside the opening exchanges of the match.
The breakthrough arrived in the 31st minute, when Pascal Gross unleashed a fierce effort from around 20 yards that cracked against the post before crossing the line, beyond the outstretched fingertips of Raya.
Brighton doubled their advantage right on the stroke of half time, as an Arsenal counter attack broke down and Charalampos Kostoulas raced clear before rifling a low finish into the bottom corner from long range.
Arsenal were architects of their own downfall for that second goal, with both centre backs backing off the Greek teenager rather than closing him down, allowing him time and space to pick his spot.
The home side extended their lead further in the 57th minute, with Chema Andres, playing his first Premier League start, rising unmarked to head home a corner as Riccardo Calafiori and Martin Odegaard stood watching.
Arteta responded by withdrawing Guimaraes and Timber for Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino, a defensive minded change that left many Arsenal supporters puzzled given the scoreline his side were already chasing.
He eventually turned to more attacking options, introducing Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze in place of Kai Havertz and Odegaard, before handing a late cameo to sixteen year old Max Dowman for Bukayo Saka.
None of the changes made any meaningful difference, and if anything Brighton should have extended their lead further, with Matt O'Riley twice going close to a fourth in the closing stages of the contest.
By full time, sections of the Arsenal support had already begun heading for the exits, leaving Brighton's fans to serenade the champions with mocking chants as their side completed a thoroughly deserved victory.
The result hands Manchester City an opportunity to move three points clear at the top of the table, should Enzo Maresca's side beat Sunderland in their own fixture on Sunday afternoon.
For Arsenal, the defeat brings an abrupt end to their pursuit of a tenth consecutive league victory, a feat they have not managed since 2002.