Mikel Arteta claims Arsenal ‘didn’t respect any principle of play’ in horror defeat at Brighton

MIKEL ARTETA admitted Arsenal were given a “lesson” by Brighton as their winning start went up in smoke. And the stunned Gunners boss knew they faced a tough day at the Amex after ONE minute. Mikel Arteta lamented Arsenal being second best at Brighton Credit: Alamy The champions were stuffed 3-0 at the Amex Credit: Shutterstock Editorial It was Arsenal’s biggest Prem loss for more than three years — which also came against the Seagulls — following goals from Pascal Gross, Charalampos Kostoulas and Chema Andres. Arteta said: “I am extremely disappointed. It’s a big lesson for us and they deserved to win. Sign up for the Arsenal newsletter Thank you! “We have to congratulate them for the victory. “There were certain basics you need in football — especially in the Premier League — that we were very far from. “It was the amount of technical errors we made, while we didn’t respect any principle of play that we have to do. “But that’s not going to take away what the boys have done in the last six or seven weeks since the World Cup.” Arsenal had won all six games this season and conceded just one before Saturday’s shocker. Andres’ header, his first goal in English football, sealed Arsenal’s heaviest defeat since a 3-0 home loss to Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton in May 2023. Most read in Football SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS The champions are now second in the Prem table on goal difference behind Manchester City — whose game in hand is against Sunderland on Sunday. Asked when he knew Arsenal had a problem, Arteta said: “From the first throw-in, you could sense it, it was so clear. “We put ourselves in trouble one time, two times, three times. “That’s one of the biggest lessons we have to take from this game. “We know what it takes to win every match — and we know what it’s going to take to win against Leeds when we come back. “That doesn’t take away the disappointment that we feel right now.” The victory capped an epic week for Brighton on the day they celebrated their 125th anniversary. It came after a 5-0 Prem victory at Coventry and the Carabao Cup comeback win at Manchester United from 2-0 down. The Seagulls have scored SIXTEEN goals — the most in the top flight — and boss Fabian Hurzeler toasted a “complete” team performance. He declared: “It is a special result against the champions. “Congratulations to a special club for the history and everyone involved in its past and now the present.” Germany midfielder Gross — involved in six goals in his last three games — started the scoring before his corner was headed in by Andres. He said: “I feel really good. I just try to help the team when I can. I really enjoy life in Brighton — I’m loving it.” Comment now