Brighton 3-0 Arsenal - Champions of England You're Having a Laugh

Brighton School Arsenal in a Dominant 3-0 Win

Brighton mark their 125th anniversary with an out of this world performance against the Premier League champions. Goals from Pascal Gross, Babis Kostoulas and Chema Andres saw the Seagulls totally dominate Arsenal in the final game before the long three week international break and climb to third in the league.

THREE GOALS & THREE POINTS AT HOME! 💙🤍 pic.twitter.com/ng3vyJSPJx

— Brighton & Hove Albion (@BHAFC) September 19, 2026

As performances go under Fabian Hurzeler none top this one and I struggle to see it being topped in the future. Hurzeler out coached, out schooled and out thought anything Mikel Arteta and Arsenal had to throw at him. After heavily criticising the Gunners style of football when they visited last season, it’s clear to see Hurzeler’s got his revenge.

Brighton vs Arsenal as it Happened

Brighton got us underway and the Seagulls were the team well on top with Ferdi Kadioglu having the first effort of the game despite his effort being blazed over the bar. David Raya was forced into action early on as Babis Kostoulas low drilled effort was well tipped wide by the Spaniard. Arsenal slowly grew into the game as they enjoyed the majority of the possession but struggling to offer much going forward.

On the 31 minute mark the deadlock would be broken through Brighton’s man on fire, Pascal Gross. The German was given too much space and time on the edge of the box and he unleashed a beautifully struck effort into the bottom right corner, beating Raya at his near post. 1-0 Brighton.

💥⚽️ Pascal Groß hunts David Raya from outside.
VAMOSSSSS ! #bhafc pic.twitter.com/i3RhHg6d3V

— Ronald Collante (@ronald_collante) September 19, 2026

After scoring the first goal of the game it seemed to give all those Brighton players a boost in confidence as Brighton began controlling passages of play until Arsenal hit on a counter attack. A three on one, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Ricardo Calafiori up against Pascal Struijk. An over hit pass from Calafiori meant Brighton could recover some numbers. Odegaard got a shot off which ricocheted to Saka but he could only produce a tame effort straight at Bart Verbruggen.

Following that missed opportunity Brighton quickly went up the other end with the ball at Diego Gomez’s feet. The Paraguayan laid it off to Kostoulas and just like Gross’ effort, he had too much space and time and he unleashed a brilliant effort past an out stretched Raya and into the bottom left corner. 2-0 Brighton.

🚨 BRIGHTON ARE DESTROYING ARSENAL 🔥

Kostoulas Scores ⚽
Gomez Assist 🅰️

Brighton 2-0 Arsenal #bhafc pic.twitter.com/Eei06yU9A4

— Ronald Collante (@ronald_collante) September 19, 2026

Half time score – Brighton 2-0 Arsenal

As Arsenal got the game back underway it was clear to see not much had changed from the first half. Brighton’s press was immense and Arsenal simply couldn’t deal with it. This press led to Brighton receiving a corner. Gross whipped in a beautiful cross at the back post and on his full Premier League debut, Chema Andres couldn’t miss from a couple yards out. 3-0 Brighton.

🚨 CHEMAAAAAA SCORES HIS FIRST GOAL FOR BRIGHTON TO MAKE IT 3-0!!!!!!! #bhafc pic.twitter.com/gY9xHBA6vJ

— Ronald Collante (@ronald_collante) September 19, 2026

The Seagulls were unlucky not to extend their lead to four as Struijk got on the end of another Gross corner but the Dutchman could only agonisingly head wide, despite a large number of fans thinking it was in (guilty). Kai Havertz had the best chance of the game for the Gunners, Gyokeres played the German in behind and with just Verbruggen to beat Havertz could only fire his shot straight at Verbruggen’s out stretched legs.

The final big chance of the game fell to Brighton substitute, Mat O’Riley. After brilliant passing play from the Seagulls, O’Riley received the ball with time inside the 18 yard box but his shot was brilliantly saved from Raya.

Full time score – Brighton 3-0 Arsenal

Brighton Player Ratings

• Bart Verbruggen – 7.5 – A couple of crucial saves

• Olivier Boscagli – 7.5 – Mega player

• Pascal Struijk – 7.5 – Replaced Dunk brilliantly and was a rock at the back

• Luka Vuskovic – 8 – The best defender in the league?

• Ferdi Kadioglu – 7 – Did his job very well

• Yasin Ayari – 7.5 – SIGN THE CONTRACT BIG BOY

• Chema Andres – 8.5 – Bossed Decland Rice and Bruno Guimares around

• Maxim De Cuyper – 7.5 – Continues his superb start to the season

• Pascal Gross – 8.5 – Vintage Pascal Gross

• Diego Gomez – 7.5 – Got to give him his plaudits

• Babis Kostoulas – 8 – There’s a reason I chose him as my player to watch this season

Substitutes

• Costinha – 6 – Didn’t have a lot to do

• Georginio Rutter – 6.5 – A couple nice moments when he came on

• Malick Yalcouye – N/A

• Michael Svoboda – N/A

• Mat O’Riley – N/A

Brighton Man of the Match

For me it’s a toss up between Gross, Chema and Kostoulas but today I’ve given it to the man on his full debut, Chema Andres. Despite making his full Premier League debut, being up against the reigning champions with a midfield of Rice, Guimaraes and Odegaard and Chema had them all in a chokehold. For just £19 million he was signed from Stuttgart and that money already looks worth it and I cannot wait to see more he can do this season.

Lift off for Chema Andres at Albion! ✨ pic.twitter.com/I5FBEriEFl

— Brighton & Hove Albion (@BHAFC) September 19, 2026