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.
Gabriel Martinelli was fortunate to stay on the pitch for more than four minutes after he left Kaoru Mitoma in a heap with a nasty looking shoulder charge, but minutes later the Brazilian was on the floor himself after a brutal Moises Caciedo tackle.
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.
Pervis Estupinan capped of a remarkable afternoon in second-half stoppage time by adding Brighton's third.
Mirror Football has identified five talking points from a miserable afternoon at the Emirates for Arsenal.
Title hopes dashed
They huffed and they puffed, but with two games left to play this season Arsenal are left needing a miracle to stand any chance of lifting the Premier League this season.
The Gunners are now four points behind City having played one game more, meaning if Arsenal suffer the same fate against Nottingham Forest as they have here against Brighton, Pep Guardiola's men will crowned champions.
Arsenal can be proud of a stellar season and be excited by Champions League football next term, but for now, a title race came just too soon.
More problems at home for Arteta
Arsenal's defence have been one of the best on the road this term, but for some reason the Gunners can't buy a clean sheet on their own patch.
Enciso's 50th minute opener ensured that Arsenal's dismal defensive record at the Emirates continued, meaning Arteta's men have still only kept three clean sheets at their own ground this season.
The two subsequent goals only emphasised Arsenal's defensive struggles.
Regardless of the result on Sunday afternoon, this kind of record is not one a team aiming to win the Premier League can boast when aiming to mount a serious charge.
It must be said that it was no less than Arsenal deserved, with the Gunners looking second best for much of the contest.
Similar styles
Any traditionalists who still can't get behind playing out from the back would not have enjoyed this clash.
Both goalkeepers in birthday boy Aaron Ramsdale and Jason Steele were adamant that they would keep the ball on the deck and try to find a team-mate that way rather than go long.
Both sides were clearly under instructions from their respective managers to play in such a way, but it was actually the Seagulls who were executing it better and more often.
The Seagulls came in at the interval with 62 percent possession, restricting Arsenal to their lowest amount at home this term.
The possession-based approach from both sides made for an inviting watch in what was an intruiging tactical battle between two of the leaugue's most exciting coaches.
Caicedo-watch
Arsenal's admiration of Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo is well-documented, with the Gunners submitting multiple bids for the Ecuadorian at the turn of the year.
Caicedo himself wanted to come, but Brighton made it clear one of their prized assets was going nowhere.
If the 21-year-old joins Arsenal this summer, he may have an awkward chat with Martinelli pending after Caicedo's brutal tackle forced the winger to withdraw from the game early.
Caicedo was impressive playing out of possession, this time operating as a right-back, though he did often help pin Arsenal into their own third for a spell in the first half, his awareness ensuring he thwarted a lot of Gunners counter-attacks before they could really get off the ground.
Lenient officiating
Andy Madley was the man with the whistle for this clash and could have dished out two red cards inside the opening 10 minutes.
Martinelli's collision with Mitoma was deemed a red card offence by Gary Neville, who was on commentary duty for Sky Sport's coverage of the clash.
The Brazilian "knew exactly what he was doing" according to Neville, but Madley opted to let Martinelli off with just a warning. Minutes later, Martinelli was the one writhing around in agony after Caicedo clattered into him from behind.
Remarkably, he wasn't carded either. Madely semed intent on letting as much go as possible, with multiple strong tackles and tactical fouls being allowed to go unpunished.
Pervis Estupinan was the first to be cautioned for a rather tame push on Saka 34 minutes in.
