Brighton & Hove Albion marked their 125th anniversary in spectacular fashion on Saturday, producing a commanding 3-0 victory over reigning Premier League champions Arsenal at the American Express Stadium.
The Seagulls delivered a memorable performance on a day dedicated to the club’s history, with Pascal Gross, Charalampos Kostoulas and Chema Andrés finding the net to hand Arsenal their first defeat of the season.
Brighton entered the game in a commemorative blue shirt and cream shorts inspired by the club’s original 1901 strip, with the fixture serving as the official celebration of the 125th anniversary of their first competitive match, played on 21 September 1901.
The occasion was further marked by a special matchday programme, a blue-and-white tifo, anniversary flags and other celebrations around the Amex before the teams took to the pitch.
Fabian Hürzeler’s side ensured the celebrations continued long after the final whistle, taking control of the contest and exposing Arsenal’s defensive weaknesses.
Gross opened the scoring before Kostoulas doubled Brighton’s advantage before the interval, giving the hosts a two-goal cushion at half-time. Chema Andrés then completed the scoring after the break to cap an impressive afternoon for the Seagulls.
The result is Arsenal’s heaviest defeat since Brighton themselves inflicted a 3-0 loss on the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium in May 2023. Brighton’s previous victory featured goals from Julio Enciso, Deniz Undav and Pervis Estupiñán.
Brighton’s Attacking Surge Continues
The victory also underlined Brighton’s remarkable attacking start to the 2026/27 campaign.
The Seagulls have now scored 16 goals in their opening five Premier League matches, the highest tally in the division at this stage. Their total is six more than second highest scoring sides Chelsea and Brentford, who have scored 10 each.
Brighton had already announced their attacking credentials with a 5-0 demolition of Coventry City in their previous league outing, a match in which Kostoulas, Malick Yalcouyé, Gross, Lewis Dunk and Yasin Ayari all scored.
Kostoulas has emerged as one of the notable contributors to that attacking run, while Gross continues to provide experience and creativity in midfield.
For Arsenal, the defeat brought an abrupt end to a perfect start to the league campaign.
Mikel Arteta’s side had won their opening four Premier League fixtures and had also recorded victories in their UEFA Champions League and EFL Cup matches, leaving them unbeaten in their first six games of the season.
The loss also denied Arsenal the opportunity to win 10 consecutive matches in the Premier League, a feat that would have been achieved for only the second time in the club’s history. The previous occasion came in 1903, when the club was still known as Woolwich Arsenal.
Despite the setback, Arsenal remain ahead of Brighton in the Premier League standings, while the Seagulls’ victory lifted them to third place with 10 points. Manchester City have the opportunity to move clear at the summit when they face Sunderland on Sunday.
Arteta To Learn From From Defeat of the Season
Arteta acknowledged the disappointment after the final whistle and said: “I will learn from this and come back strong.”
The Arsenal manager also admitted that the timing of the defeat was unfortunate, with the international break now interrupting the club’s response to their first loss of the campaign.
Brighton, meanwhile, head into the break with their anniversary celebrations complete and their early-season momentum strengthened by another emphatic attacking display.
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