BRIGHTON produced a dominant display at the Emirates Stadium to stun Arsenal 3-0 and all but hand the English Premier League title to Manchester City.
After a scrappy first half in which both sides struggled to play their usual flowing football, the game came alive in the second half.
Julio Enciso, Deniz Undav and Pervis Estupinan struck for the visitors as they bounced back from last Monday’s shock 5-1 home defeat to Everton.
Brighton took the lead six minutes into the second half when Enciso was left all alone in the Arsenal box to head home Estupinan’s cross from few yards out.
The goal shocked Arsenal into some urgency but it was the visitors who grew in confidence and posed more attacking threat.
Arsenal were desperate to get back in the game and get the win that would keep them in the title race, with manager Mikel Arteta bringing on Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah and Emile Smith Rowe.
But it was a Brighton substitute that scored, Undav chipping the ball over Aaron Ramsdale and into an unguarded Arsenal net with four minutes left of regulation time.
When eight minutes was given as stoppage time, Arsenal had some hope of at least snatching a point.
Again, it was Brighton that took advantage instead, Estupinan scoring from a rebound in the third minute of added time to virtually end Arsenal’s title hopes.
The Gunners are now four points behind leaders Manchester City, who have a game in hand and who eased past Everton 3-0 at Goodison Park earlier today.
Ilkay Gundogan struck twice and Erling Haaland scored his 36th Premier League goal of the season to open up the four-point gap over Arsenal.
City will secure their third consecutive Premier League title if they beat Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, regardless of Arsenal’s result at Nottingham Forest the previous day.
