Sussex

Alex Howell
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton came into this match as the league's top scorers and did not disappoint with their attacking mindset.

But they worked hard in possession and when battling for the ball to deny Arsenal the space in which they thrive.

Diego Gomez on the wing did an excellent job of keeping Riccardo Calafiori quiet, while Charalampos Kostoulas caused problems for the Gunners backline throughout.

The 19-year-old Greece international deserved his excellent goal, which was his third in successive games, as he looks to show he can step up to be Brighton's main striker following Danny Welbeck's summer departure to Chelsea.

But he was well supported by his team-mates, with Spaniard Chema Andres marking his first league start with a first goal for the club.

And then there was the 35-year-old Pascal Gross, who has rolled back the years with his performances so far.

The German, who rejoined the club in January from Borussia Dortmund, was again the conductor of Brighton's play and now has four goals in his last five games.

Fabian Hurzeler's side are packed with young talent and have a fearless approach that will cause problems and concern for any side - as both Manchester United and Arsenal found out over the past week.

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "It was a special win. Not only because we played the best team in England but because of the performance. I am really proud of my team.

"It's always important to enjoy these moments. We were horrible to play against.

"Intensity, intensity, winning the personal duels...we have to have the belief to compete with the best teams in the league. My players really trust each other on the pitch. If one player is out then another can replace him.

"Overall we wanted to be really good in every phase. We needed to be at the highest level. We go game by game. After the international break we have a lot of games. After wins like this we have to stay humble and understand why we had this win. We have to keep on going."

On Pascal Gross: "He enjoys himself on the pitch scoring goals. You can really trust him and he makes the team-mates around him really better."

Listen to Hurzeler speaking to BBC Radio Sussex here

Brighton's Pascal Gross, speaking to MOTD: "I thought we showed great intensity, waited for mistakes and punished Arsenal. It was a strong performance, a very complete performance.

"We won the ball high up and attacked really fast. After the last two wins we are full of confidence and wanted to finish really strong before the international break.

"I feel really good. I can't complain. I just try to help the team when I can. I really enjoy life in Brighton, I'm loving it.

"I know after the international break we play every three days and a lot of the lads are not used to that. It will be tough. I hope we can compete. We have a big squad this season."

Did you know?

• Brighton have now won at home against the reigning Premier League champions in each of the last three seasons, beating Manchester City in 2024-25, Liverpool in 2025-26 and Arsenal today.

• No player has been involved in more Premier League goals this season than Brighton's Gross (six – three goals, three assists), who scored and assisted against Arsenal today.

• Brighton are the highest goalscorers in the Premier League this season, with their 16 goals the most by a side in their first five games since Man City in 2022-23 (19).

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Brighton's performance

What did you make of Arsenal's display?

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Monday for a selection of your replies.

There are five games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Tottenham v Aston Villa (12:30)

• Brighton v Arsenal - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Everton v Ipswich

• Newcastle v Hull City - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Nottingham Forest v Coventry (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated.

Follow all of the action and reaction here

How to follow the Premier League weekend across the BBC

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on your smart speaker. Just say "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play Brighton v Arsenal" or "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play the Newcastle match", for example.

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Simply predict the outcome of the six fixtures we've selected from across domestic and European competitions every week.

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There might be a bit of an edge to this one after Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler had a pop at Arsenal over their time-wasting when they beat the Seagulls near the end of last season.

I love the way Brighton play and I was at Old Trafford to watch their comeback to beat Manchester United in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.

It doesn't seem to matter who they are missing from their team, Brighton are just bold as brass with the way they press and get men forward.

Luka Vuskovic, who they got from Spurs for £46m in the summer, is only 19 but he strolled through the game against United. What a player he looks.

The issue I have with Brighton in this game, however, is that Arsenal are not Manchester United. They are a cut above that.

Arsenal are the real deal and I don't see any weaknesses in their team, as their impressive win at Sunderland underlined. They are brave going forward, but they are also streetwise defensively and can see out a game when they have to, time-wasting or not.

They have that steel about them but I also think they could expose Brighton if Hurzeler's side go toe-to-toe with them, which is what I am expecting.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

BBC Sport examines some of the key themes before Saturday's match between Brighton and Arsenal (15:00 BST), with the Gunners looking to make it five league wins from five before the international break.

Seagulls not feeding off scraps

Brighton's 5-0 victory at Coventry City equalled their biggest Premier League away win and took their tally to 13 goals from their opening four matches, a club record at this stage of a top-flight season.

The result also made them the league's top scorers after four matchrounds. That is no fluke, with the Seagulls the only team to have accumulated an expected goals total of 10 or more.

But they have also made the most of their chances, scoring almost three goals more than Opta's xG model would predict, helped by long-range strikes from Lewis Dunk and Yasin Ayari last weekend.

Brighton demonstrated their firepower again in midweek, with 19-year-old Greek striker Charalampos Kostoulas scoring for the second successive game as they came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Manchester United in the Carabao Cup.

Fabian Hurzeler's free-scoring side will, however, face a tougher test against the league's strongest defensive unit. Brighton have not beaten Arsenal at home for six years and lost all three league and cup meetings between the sides last season.

In-form Gunners look to extend winning streak

After a scare at Sunderland, where David Raya's penalty save proved decisive, Arsenal made it seven wins from seven this season by beating Ipswich Town in the EFL Cup on Tuesday.

Max Dowman scored twice at Portman Road, becoming only the second 16-year-old, after Wayne Rooney, to net a double for a Premier League side.

But Dowman, who has yet to feature in the top flight this season, may have to bide his time for further opportunities given his team's impressive form.

The Gunners are seeking a 10th consecutive league victory, a feat they last achieved in 2002. Another win on Saturday would leave them four short of the club record, set in 1998.

Arsenal have conceded just twice in their previous nine league games and have barely missed a beat this term, despite the absence of key centre-back William Saliba.

They have conceded only once in the league in 2026-27, while their totals for shots faced, shots on target faced and expected goals against are all the lowest in the division.

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Arsenal at Amex Stadium (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Summer signing Femi Azeez will not be available until after the international break, confirmed Hurzeler. The coaching staff will "work with him individually" before "integrating him back into the first team". If all goes to plan, he will "definitely be at his highest physical level" after the three-week break.

• Jaouen Hadjam is "able to play" despite picking up a knock, and Luka Vuskovic will "definitely be available" despite suffering with cramp during their midweek Carabao Cup fixture.

• The Brighton boss added: "Although we are missing a few players, we are still a very strong squad. We have a good togetherness on the pitch and we have players who will work a lot."

• On Lewis Dunk potentially making his 300th Premier League start this weekend: "That number is very impressive. He is always drives the high standards, so it is a pleasure to work with him as our captain. It's hard to understand from the outside just how much he wants to give back to Brighton, but his connection with this club is something which drives his whole life."

• Bart Verbruggen could also make his 100th Premier League appearance, which is credit to his "motivation, attitude and character" - despite being just 24 years of age - and goalkeeping coach Jelle ten Rouwelaar.

• When asked about the goalkeeper's tradition of getting a round of coffees in if he keeps a clean sheet, Hurzeler replied: "Yes, he did it after the Coventry City game. These rituals are very important because then everybody understands there will be a reward for getting a clean sheet. I've never drank coffee before, but since this started it has pushed me to drink it."

• He stands by calling for stricter rules around set-pieces and accusing Arsenal of time-wasting last campaign, but insists it is a new season. He added: "I will always share my opinion if I'm asked a question. I congratulated them for being deserved champions. They have started this season very impressively and they are maybe the best team in England, so it is our challenge to compete with them."

• The Seagulls will need to find "a good balance between keeping the stability and keeping control of the game in possession" this weekend, as the team that has scored the most goals (Brighton) come up against the team that has conceded the least goals (Arsenal). The "most important thing" will be keeping a clean sheet.

• It is "a joy to watch" Pascal Gross' performances at the moment: "I'm very pleased with how he is playing in possession and out of possession. It is nice to see how he is leading on and off the pitch. Hopefully we can bring him into the kind of positions where he can make the most impact."

• Hurzeler's had "no time" to reflect on his side's impressive start, having taken seven points from a possible 12. Instead, his focus is on "reflecting on why we are in the situation and what things gave us this good foundation". In his opinion, the answer to that is: "The hard work, the non-negotiables, the small margins."

Hit play above to hear more from Hurzeler on Verbruggen, or listen on BBC Sounds here

Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live commentary of Brighton v Arsenal from 15:00 BST on Saturday

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Got a question about Brighton? Get in touch here and we'll seek answers from our experts

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Thomas Tuchel has named his squad for England's upcoming Nations League fixtures.

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Jason Steele (Brighton), James Trafford (Leeds United)

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid), Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Trevoh Chalobah (Como), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Lewis Hall (Newcastle), Ezri Konsa (Arsenal), Tino Livramento (Newcastle), Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen).

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Manchester City), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Alex Scott (Bournemouth).

Forwards: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Morgan Rogers (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal).

Follow reaction and Tuchel's news conference here

Dan Wareing
BBC Sport England

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Crawley Town head coach Colin Kazim-Richards has called on fans to back his squad when they face a near 480-mile round trip to Grimsby on Saturday.

Kazim-Richards' side are without a win in four League Two games and were booed off the pitch after a 3-1 home defeat by Cheltenham last weekend.

He said it was "understandable" if fans were not able to make it to Lincolnshire due to the cost of travel, but urged them to support the team from home if not.

"If you're coming, then that is massive for us," he told BBC Radio Surrey.

Kazim-Richards guided the Reds to League Two safety on the final day of last season but their poor form sees them scrambling near the foot of the table once again.

"It's understandable that it's tough to go up there when diesel is so expensive and trains aren't cheap," said Kazim-Richards.

"But it doesn't matter if there's 10, it doesn't matter if there's 50 or there's 200, we appreciate everything and we see you.

He added: "Any away game is tough when the results are not going your way, and I've always said fans are allowed to express their feelings.

"I'm positive that the results will change because they have to."