It was fun while it lasted.
But Arsenal’s fading title challenge effectively ended in defeat and despair at the Emirates. They were blitzed by a brilliant Brighton display but the whole season just seemed to catch up with Arsenal in one afternoon.
If there was going to be a turnaround in the title race, realistically it had to be this weekend. But Manchester City’s thumping win at Everton earlier in the day sucked all of the energy and positivity out of the stadium even before kick-off.
Arsenal were so flat, they just could not lift themselves again and, by the final whistle, the Emirates was less than half full which is a shame because surely the fans cannot complain about the season overall.
But Arsenal have blown up horribly in the past few weeks and that must come down to some inexperience and naivety because they have won just two of their last seven games. This was probably the most brutal defeat of all because Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi gave Mikel Arteta a proper schooling in the second half as the visitors tore Arsenal apart.
The frustrations gripped the Arsenal fanbase, referee Andy Madley had a maddening game lacking in authority but if a few of them took their red spectacles off they would have seen that Gabriel Martinelli was lucky not to have been sent off before he went off injured.
Martinelli’s shocking challenge on Kaoru Mitoma was deemed reckless rather than dangerous by the VAR and therefore the referee was not advised to change his mind and there was not even a yellow card.
What was probably not expected was the physical battle between two teams renowned for their football rather than their rough stuff. Martinelli was taken out soon after by Brighton full back Moises Caicedo’s brutal challenge.
Leandro Trossard came on for Martinelli - who reappeared after the final whistle in a surgical boot - and the ex-Brighton winger’s every touch was booed by the visiting fans. Trossard hit the top of the bar and Bukayo Saka’s shot was as close as Arsenal came.
But the second half was a different story. Brighton were magnificent as they stepped it up a gear. They took a 51st minute lead after Pervis Estupiñán’s cross bounced up, Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior went down and one of the smallest players on the pitch, Julio Enciso, headed in.
Arsenal screamed foul as Jakub Kiwior claimed he was caught by Evan Ferguson, but what sort of defender goes down and does not try to protect his own goal? It was utterly bizarre, especially considering he was able to carry on afterwards.
Arteta made changes to try and get his team going and substitute Reiss Nelson’s shot just arrowed wide. But Brighton are Arsenal’s bogey team as the Gunners have managed to beat them just once at the Emirates in the past five seasons.
The second goal came after 86 minutes. Aaron Ramsdale’s throw found Trossard, Pascal Gross made a challenge and the ball fell to substitute Deniz Undaz who chipped the Arsenal keeper.
Brighton boss De Zerbi went running down the touchline, Jose Mourinho style. Then he did a knee slide after the third in injury time. Undav’s shot was parried by Ramsdale and put in by Estupiñán. Job done.
Brighton deserved it. What a team they have put together. Levi Colwill was among their star performers and the on-loan Chelsea defender is surely an England defender in waiting.
For Arsenal, they cannot lose sight of the fact it has been a good season. But it could all be over by next weekend and, after being eight points clear just a matter of weeks ago, their season has fallen off a cliff in dramatic fashion.
