Premier League news: Could Brighton do a Leicester? Arsenal's defeat serves as a lesson
Arsenal’s first Premier League defeat of the season has served as a reminder that there is still plenty of work to do.
The Gunners suffered a 3-0 defeat to Brighton at the Amex Stadium on Saturday, ending their perfect start to the campaign.
Pascal Gross, Charalampos Kostoulas and Chema Andres were all on target as Brighton produced an impressive performance.
Speaking to Mr Gamble, ex-Chelsea star and France World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf praised Brighton for their performance while warning Arsenal that other teams will punish them if they are not at their best.
Arsenal receive a wake-up call
The former France international believes Arsenal’s defeat should be treated as a lesson rather than a reason to panic.
“It’s a lesson for Arsenal, but Brighton are a good team. We thought Arsenal had everything solved, but this result serves as a lesson. Look at Manchester City winning 5-3, they know they need to improve defensively, but with five wins from five games, they remain optimistic.
“As for Arsenal, many still believe they are the best team in the Premier League, but if you aren't at 100%, teams like Brighton will punish you. It's a wake-up call, and hopefully they learn from it.”
Arsenal had won their opening four Premier League matches before travelling to Brighton, while the Seagulls had already shown their quality by beating Manchester United in the League Cup earlier in the week.
The Spaniard has reportedly agreed to a contract extension with Arsenal, with the new deal underlining the club’s continued faith in his project.
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Could Brighton repeat Leicester's title run?
Leboeuf also believes Brighton deserve plenty of credit for what they have achieved and has pointed towards Leicester City’s historic Premier League title win as an example of what can happen when the established teams drop points.
“People ask what happened to Arsenal, but give credit to Brighton. They beat Manchester United at Old Trafford in the League Cup and defeated Arsenal 3-0 convincingly. Full credit to their manager and players, Brighton are a fantastic side.
“Remember when Leicester won the league? Anything can happen when other teams drop points and they will this season. Brighton deserves respect for their performances and who knows what might happen.”
Brighton have now moved up to third in the Premier League after their victory over the defending champions, continuing an impressive start under Fabian Hürzeler.
While it is still far too early to draw comparisons with Leicester’s remarkable 2015/16 campaign, Leboeuf believes Brighton’s performances should not be overlooked.
For Arsenal, however, the focus will now be on responding to their first setback of the season.
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