Mikel Arteta saw faltering Arsenal suffer a third defeat in four Premier League games as Brighton and Hove Albion snatched a 2-1 victory in north London.
Leandro Trossard and Enock Mwepu gave Brighton their first ever Premier League win in April – at the 16th attempt – and inflicted a painful blow on their hosts.
Trossard put Brighton ahead in the 28th minute with the visitors first shot on target, striking his fifth Premier League goal of the season. Mwepu hit the second in the 66th minute as he sent a 20-yard strike fizzing past Aaron Ramsdale.
Martin Odegaard s deflected long-range late effort proved to be only a consolation, and after losing to Liverpool and Crystal Palace either side of a win at Aston Villa, this latest setback could have major implications for Arsenal s hopes of a top-four finish.
Gabriel Magalhaes should have put Arsenal ahead in the 26th minute but could only head Bukayo Saka s cross into the side-netting.
And Arsenal were regretting that miss a couple of minutes later when Lewis Dunk s quick ball forward was met on the right flank by Mwepu, whose cutback to Trossard was followed by a thumping 15-yard strike into the right corner.
In first-half stoppage time, Gabriel Martinelli thought he had got the hosts level, nodding in from close range, but a lengthy VAR check concluded the striker was offside.
Saka lashed over the Brighton bar from the edge of the penalty area in the second half, and Arsenal were two down soon afterwards, the visitors doubling their lead through Mwepu s skilfully controlled low shot after Moises Caicedo clipped the ball into his path.
Odegaard hit the bar with a free-kick and substitute Eddie Nketiah also hit the horizontal on the rebound as Arsenal chased the game late on.
Odegaard, with the help of a deflection off Danny Welbeck, finally halved the deficit from 30 yards, but Nketiah s stoppage-time header was met with a great save from Robert Sanchez as Brighton held on.
What does it mean? Arsenal do Spurs a favour
A pre-match boost for Arsenal arrived as Manchester United, a rival for fourth place, lost at Everton. If that was not the spur they needed, then surely the fact the Gunners are embroiled in a battle with Tottenham for that final Champions League spot should have seen them fare better than this.
Brighton had won just one of their previous 13 away Premier League games in London (D9 L3), but from the moment they led the omens were positive for Graham Potter s visitors.
For all of Arsenal s huffing and puffing, the late flurry suggested that until then they had previously been playing within themselves, unforgivable at this stage of the season.
Gunners show a Laca threat
Arsenal captain Alexandre Lacazette has now not scored from open play in any of his past 17 appearances in all competitions, since opening the scoring against Southampton in December. He has managed two penalties in the interim, but it is 23 hours and 58 minutes without an open play goal for the forward.
He sent one header from a corner skimming dangerous across goal in this game, but it was at the wrong end of the pitch.
Brighton come good
As Arsenal waited to see whether Aston Villa could help them out in their later game against Spurs, Brighton were jubilant, having managed just one goal in their previous seven games before this victory.
Arsenal have now lost two of their past 29 Premier League games at 3pm on a Saturday (W23 D4), with both defeats coming against Brighton. At home, the Gunners had been unbeaten in 29 such games since a 3-1 loss to Aston Villa in August 2013 (W24 D5).
Key Opta Facts
– Brighton have picked up their first win in eight Premier League games (D1 L6), while this is the first time they have kept consecutive clean sheets since October – which also came against both Arsenal and Norwich City.
– Arsenal have won just three of their 10 Premier League games against Brighton (30 per cent), only having a lower win rate against Liverpool and Manchester United (both 27 per cent) in the competition. Meanwhile, this is the first time the Gunners have ever failed to score in consecutive meetings with the Seagulls in all competitions.
– Arsenal have conceded the first goal in consecutive Premier League games for the first time since their opening three of the season. The Gunners have lost seven of their eight games when conceding first this season (W1).
– Trossard has now scored exactly five goals in each of his three Premier League campaigns, although 60 per cent of his away goals in the competition have come this season (three of five).
– Mwepu has been involved in five goals in his past five Premier League games (one goal, four assists), with this the first time he has both scored and assisted in the same game.
What s next?
Arsenal face a trip to Southampton next Saturday, when Brighton will be back in north London to tackle Tottenham.
