Arsenal’s title bid is all but over after they slipped to a costly 2-0 win against a hugely impressive Brighton side at the Emirates today.
Brighton dominated the ball during the opening exchanges, although their former attacker Leandro Trossard came close to opening the scoring on the half-hour mark, the Belgian winger firing an effort off the crossbar from 12 yards out.
The Seagulls then had a big chance a few minutes later, but Julio Enciso shot way over from a Kaoru Mitoma cutback when he really should have done better.
Then on the stroke of half-time, Bukayo Saka struck a powerful half-volley just past the near post.
In the 51st minute, Brighton would take a deserved lead when a flowing team move ended with Enciso heading home Pervis Estupinan’s bobbled cross from close range.
Brighton always looked more likely to score a second than Arsenal equalising, as Arteta’s side – much like their title bid – seemed to run out of steam late on.
Then in the 86th minute, Brighton substitute Deniz Undav hammered the final nail into Arsenal’s coffin when he lobbed Aaron Ramsdale after Trossard had been dispossessed in the middle of the pitch.
In injury-time Estupinan added insult to injury when the indefatigable left-back tucked home a rebound from Undav’s shot from distance.
Man City now need just one more win from three games to seal the title and speaking afterwards Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard admitted his side’s title chances are all but finished.
“Yeah it feels like that [whether the title is over]. It is going to be very difficult now we have to be honest. It is tough to take.
“It is not a good feeling at the moment. The way we played, particularly in the second half, I don’t know what happened to be honest. It feels like there is no hope now.
“In the first half we did a lot of good things and had moments to create big chances but we gave them more and more momentum in the second half.
“We wanted to come here and continue like we have in the last two games, get a good result and keep pushing. It is a big disappointment.
“I don’t think mentality was an issue. We were good going into the game but in the game was a different story and we have to accept it and learn from it.”
