Brighton break Arsenal hearts as defeat all but hands Man City title – 5 talking points

Arsenal’s title hopes are all but over after they were beaten 3-0 at home by a Brighton side who were well worth the victory.

The Gunners players kicked off well aware that Manchester City had taken a huge step to a fifth Premier League title in six seasons courtesy of a 3-0 win away at Everton.

Ahead of the game, Mikel Arteta insisted that “nothing changes” for his side despite the City result.Anything less than a win would all but end Arsenal’s slim title hopes and yet they were outplayed for the overwhelming majority of this tie.

Brighton started on the front foot and despite some half-chances for the hosts, it was always the visitors who looked more likely to strike.

After Martinelli was substituted due to the injury picked up from the aforementioned tackle, ex-Brighton man Leandro Trossard was introduced and fired the game’s best chance up to that point over the bar.

It wasn’t until the second half when things sprung into life, with Julio Enciso heading home to put Brighton in front after he was left unmarked inside the six-yard box.

Arsenal centre-back Jakub Kiwior appeared go down clutching his ankle at a terrible time, leaving Enciso with all the space he needed to score.

The Gunners failed to respond in the remaining 40 minutes plus stoppage time, before Deniz Undav’s lobbed strike was the dagger in Arsenal hearts, surely sparking celebrations in the blue half of Manchester.