Arsenal's Premier League title truth becomes clear to Mikel Arteta after Brighton revenge

Back in balmy May, Brighton ended Arsenal’s title hopes with a brilliant 3-0 victory over Mikel Arteta's side... seven months and a transfer window later, the Gunners served up their revenge in the cold over the Europa League hopefuls

The two-goal margin of victory through second-half goals from Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz does not do justice to the superior number of shots Arsenal sent in (26-6). And only an injury-time save by Bart Verbruggen from Emile Smith Rowe prevented another 3-0 win.

Since early summer, Declan Rice and Kai Havertz have arrived at Arsenal while Brighton have lost Moises Caicedo, Alexis Mac Allister and Levi Colvill. But two things remained the same. Arsenal failed to take enough chances - and Pascal Gross should have equalised when he was unmarked six yards out with Brighton’s only second attempt on goal after 82 minutes.

The Gunners will have to buy a striker in the January window if they want to sustain their latest title challenge.

And Arteta, who beat an FA rap last week, continues to show unpleasant disrespect to officials and was booked for a Premier League-high four times this season in the opening period.

After praising the maturity and patience shown by his team, the Spaniard claimed: “I think we had a really good first half last year as well. We should have scored two or three goals and we didn’t. That was my concern at half time again.

"But if we generate more, the probability for scoring will be higher. That’s the only thing that we can focus on. Today we showed a real determination from beginning to end to beat them.”

Brighton were seeking a fourth consecutive win at the Emirates and James Milner’s early crunching tackle on Bukayo Saka set the tone for a niggly first half where Arsenal