Arsenal 0-3 Brighton: City’s lead remains firm as Gunners fall 4 points behind in the title race

The match has ended, with a final score of Arsenal 0-3 Brighton.

Arsenal’s hopes of winning the title have diminished significantly after suffering a crushing defeat to Brighton, leaving Manchester City just one win away from securing their fifth Premier League title in six seasons.

After Manchester City’s 3-0 win over Everton earlier on Sunday left Arsenal trailing by four points in the title race, they needed to respond.

However, it turned out to be a deeply frustrating day for the Gunners as they suffered a crushing defeat to Brighton.

Despite Leandro Trossard hitting the bar against his former club and Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka both going close, Julio Enciso’s close-range header put Brighton ahead.

Substitute Deniz Undav doubled the lead in the 86th minute before Pervis Estupinan added Brighton’s third in the 96th minute, adding to Arsenal’s misery.

City will secure the Premier League title next Sunday if they beat Chelsea at home, even if Arsenal defeat Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

However, City will be confirmed champions without playing on Saturday if Arsenal loses at Forest. Arsenal lost Gabriel Martinelli to injury in the first half after a foul by Brighton’s Moises Caicedo.

The win lifted Brighton above Aston Villa and Tottenham to sixth on 58 points, four behind fifth-placed Liverpool with one game in hand.

Arsenal’s maximum possible points is 87, while City has 85 with matches against Chelsea (home), Brighton (away), and Brentford (away) left.

Here are the key events from the match:

12′ CLOSE! Ramsdale denies Enciso’s shot.

19′ Martinelli is substituted due to injury, and Trossard comes on.

30′ Trossard nearly scores, but his shot hits the bar.

34′ Pervis Estupinan is booked and given a yellow card.

44′ Evan Ferguson’s shot goes wide.

46′ Saka’s shot just misses the target.

51′ GOAL! Julio Enciso scores for Brighton, making it Arsenal 0-1 Brighton.

63′ Nelson’s shot goes just wide.

86′ GOAL! Deniz Undav scores, making it Arsenal 0-2 Brighton.

95′ GOAL! Pervis Estupiñán scores Brighton’s third goal, making it Arsenal 0-3 Brighton.

Here are the line-ups for the match:

Arsenal XI: Xhaka, Jorginho, Tierney, Martin Ødegaard, Jesus, Gabriel, Ramsdale, Ben White, Martinelli, Saka, Jakub Kiwior.

Subs: Trossard, Partey, Holding, Matt Turner, Nelson, Smith Rowe, Nketiah, Fábio Vieira, Reuell Walters.

Brighton XI: Steele, Gross, Dunk, Pervis Estupiñán, Mac Allister, Kaoru Mitoma, Gilmour, Julio Enciso, Moisés Caicedo, Evan Ferguson, Levi Colwill.

Subs: Welbeck, Deniz Undav, Tom McGill, Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Moran, Cameron Peupion, Yasin Ayari, Odel Offiah, Facundo Buonanotte.