Brighton 3–0 Arsenal, and it was ugly
Your team's perfect start is gone. Brighton 3–0 Arsenal at the Amex on Saturday, Arsenal's first Premier League defeat of the season (1) (2) (3).
Arteta did not hide from it. "The way we have competed, the way we have played, the way we have dominated. It's been really good," he said. "But today we need to take this lesson very, very seriously because it's going to happen" (1).
Jurriën Timber posted his own verdict on Instagram: "Unacceptable performance, will be back and better! Thank you fans." Fans picked that up fast (Reddit).
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City are three points clear
Manchester City 5–3 Sunderland on Sunday put City on 15 points from five games. Arsenal sit second on 12, three behind (2) (3).
Enzo Maresca would not bite on title talk. "I prefer to win 1–0 than 5–3 but expected a difficult game," he said (9). Semenyo scored twice (9).
Worth noting: last season Arsenal had 10 points after five games. This year they have 12 (Reddit).
The Opta model still likes you
One bad afternoon has not flipped the numbers. Opta's model gives Arsenal a 43.52% title chance, City 40.96% (2).
That is with City already three points ahead. The projection is doing a lot of work on the rest of the season, not the last 90 minutes.
The 'arrogant' tag is back
The pundits came for Arsenal's approach after Brighton. The accusation is that Arteta's side went into the game believing their own hype (1).
It is Arsenal's third league loss since February (4). That is the line that will follow them into the next match.
A January striker search is warming up
Three names on the attacking radar. Arsenal are tracking Borussia Dortmund's Maximilian Beier, and Andrea Berta is still assessing options up front (5).
Real Madrid's Endrick is also being watched, with his limited minutes at the Bernabéu making a January move a live question (7).
And Arsenal are interested in Liverpool's 18-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha, offering more playing time, though Liverpool want to keep him (8).
Dowman, Mesloub, and the youth pipeline
Ally McCoist wants Max Dowman at Rangers on loan. "Aye, I would take him, 100 per cent I'd take him at Ibrox," he said (4). Talk about Dowman's minutes at Arsenal will only grow before January.
Elsewhere, Arsenal are among the clubs monitoring Lens teenager Mezian Mesloub, with Manchester United and Chelsea also in the race (10).
Around the league
Manchester United were held 1–1 at winless Fulham on Sunday (3). Brentford beat Chelsea 3–0, which takes some shine off Xabi Alonso's start (3).
Fan reactions
The mood on r/Gunners is bruised but not panicked. Plenty of fans are pointing out that Arsenal are two points better off than at this stage last season and that the international break comes at a useful moment, while others are simply sharing Timber's apology post and letting it sit. Discussion
