Arsenal Bites The Dust At The Amex Stadium

At the Amex Stadium earlier today Arsenal missed the chance to close the gap on Manchester United in the race for Champions League qualification as they fell to a 2-1 defeat to Brighton to further imperil their Champions League hopes.

While the major bulk of Arsenal team looked jaded and bereft of ideas, Bukayo Saka has been one of the Gunners' bright sparks this season and the 18-year-old demonstrated why with a wonderful curling effort crashing against the crossbar early on.

The winger then supplied a delightful pinpoint cross to Alexandre Lacazette, but the French striker couldn't put his feet right in time to tuck home and Brighton quickly scrambled clear.

Having lost Granit Xhaka and Pablo Mari to injury against Manchester City in midweek, Arsenal's injury crisis worsened when goalkeeper Bernd Leno suffered a potentially serious knee injury. But more drama was to come afterwards.

The German had rushed off his line to collect a bouncing ball and consequently collided with Neal Maupay, with the stopper's screams of agony chillingly echoing around the Amex Stadium. Leno was stretchered off and replaced by Emiliano Martinez, who was forced into a fine stop just minutes after coming on for his injured colleague.

Aubameyang did get a rare sight of goal after a clever exchange with Alexandre Lacazette only to be denied by a superb last-ditch challenge from Aidan Webster to the relief of the home fans.

After a slow start to the second half, Arsenal began to show their pace on the counter with Saka sliding in Aubameyang, who finished with aplomb but the offside flag was raised - and a VAR replay showed he was only a few inches shy of being onside much to the Gunners chagrin.

Martinez had to be on hand to deny Maupay from point-blank range as both sides displayed their attacking threat. But an incisive breakaway from the visitors saw the deadlock broken after 67 minutes when Saka found Nicolas Pepe and the Ivorian struck a stunning curling effort into the top corner leaving the Brighton goalie helpless.

But alas Arsenal failed to build on their lead with Aubameyang twice denied and the Gunners paid the price for some sloppy defending from a set piece when Lewis Dunk prodded home from close range after Brighton worked a neat short corner.

Arteta sent on Kieran Tierney, Joe Willock and Reiss Nelson late on in a desperate attempt to find a winner, but it was Maupay who scored deep into injury time to win the game leaving the Gunners with a mountain to climb regarding Champions League qualification.