Brighton are the most dangerous team to draw in the Premier League right now. In the space of three days, the Seagulls came from 2-0 down to knock Manchester United out of the League Cup, then thrashed Premier League champions Arsenal 3-0 at the Amex Stadium. Fabian Hürzeler’s side are now third in the table and the league’s top scorers, and the giant-killer label fits perfectly. Here is how Brighton pulled it off.
Heist at Old Trafford
Wednesday night at Old Trafford looked like routine work for United when Shea Lacey and Mason Mount made it 2-0 inside 10 minutes. Brighton, who made six changes, did not panic. Charalampos Kostoulas pulled one back before half-time, Pascal Groß levelled, and substitute Maxim De Cuyper struck the winner. Brighton had won four of their previous five visits to Old Trafford, and it showed. Sky Sports reported it was the first time in 50 years that United had led 2-0 at Old Trafford and lost, having won 143 of the previous 145 such games.
Arsenal Meet the Amex Press
Arsenal arrived chasing an eighth straight win and their best start to a season in 123 years. Brighton’s high press turned that dream into a nightmare. David Raya even passed straight to a Brighton player early on, and only a Declan Rice recovery saved him. Groß struck from outside the box in the 31st minute, Kostoulas doubled the lead with a long-range effort before the break, and Chema Andrés headed in a Groß corner nine minutes after the restart for his first Brighton goal. It could have been four, with Pascal Struijk heading wide and Malick Yalcouyé hitting the woodwork. Sky Sports even said the scoreline flattered the Gunners, on the day Brighton celebrated their 125th anniversary in a special shirt.
The Numbers Behind the Upset
Brighton have scored 16 goals in five league games, more than any other team. Groß has scored in three consecutive games for the first time in his Brighton career, and Kostoulas already has six goal involvements this season, twice as many as he managed in all of last season.
Opta also noted it was Arsenal’s heaviest defeat as reigning champions since 1989. Arsenal slipped to second on 12 points, three behind Manchester City, while Brighton rose to third, two points behind Arsenal.
Not a Fluke: Hürzeler’s System
Even Mikel Arteta admitted Brighton were the better team and said his side failed at the basics, including winning first and second balls.
Hürzeler boasted afterwards that his players were horrible to play against. One widely shared post on X from EPL Bible compared the press to prime Jürgen Klopp. Brighton have also thumped Coventry 5-0 and Aston Villa 4-0 this season, although they did lose a 4-3 thriller at Chelsea on 30 August.
Can the Seagulls Keep Flying?
Brighton also compete in the UEFA Conference League this season, so squad depth will be tested. The international break gives everyone a breather, but the message to the rest of the Premier League is clear: the Seagulls bite. Would you back Brighton to finish in the top four? Share your prediction in the comments.
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