Alan Shearer sends title warning to Arsenal after Brighton defeat

Arsenal could have lost by ‘six or seven’, says Premier League legend Alan Shearer (Picture: Match of the Day)

Alan Shearer told Arsenal they risked doing their title chances serious harm if they produced any repeats of the dismal performance they put in against Brighton on Saturday.

The Gunners boasted a 100 per cent record in all competitions ahead of the contest and headed the the south coast as the clear favourites to come out on top.

But the reigning Premier League champions were well beaten at the Amex Stadium, with goals from Pascal Gross and Charalampos Kostoulas stunning the visitors in the first half.

Brighton summer signing Chema Andres put the game to bed in the 57th minute, rising the highest to head home Gross’ corner, sparking feverous celebrations amongst the Seagulls home support.

Arsenal were perhaps fortune to finish the game with ten men on the field after Declan Rice petulantly kicked out at Malick Yalcouye during a moment of frustration, for which he only received a yellow card.

The result means Enzo Maresca’s Manchester City can take a three-point lead at the top of the table with victory over Sunderland at the Etihad this afternoon.

Arsenal now have a long wait before they have the opportunity to write their wrongs, with Mikel Arteta’s men playing host to Leeds in their next match after the international break.

Chema Andres scored in the second half to put Brighton out of sight (Picture: Getty)

Arteta cut a frustrated figure on the touchline (Picture: Sports Press Photo/Shutterstock)

‘They’ve been beaten, they’ve been well beaten,’ ex-England striker Shearer said on Match of the Day while watching back Rice’s kick on Yalcouye.

‘It could have been six or seven and this was frustration from Declan Rice.

‘Yalcouye gives him a little nudge there and I do think the referee gets that right. He gives him a yellow card.‘I don’t think it was too aggressive, he didn’t lash out at him, therefore I think the referee got that right, but it sort of summed Arsenal’s day up.’

While stressing that there was no need to ‘panic’, Shearer claimed Arteta’s squad could ill afford to repeat their display ‘too many times’ if they are to be successful in defending their title.

‘I would say there’s no panic because after five games last season, Arsenal had ten points. After five games this season, they’ve got 12 points,’ Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorer, added.

‘But that performance can’t happen too many times, if again.’

Rice was perhaps fortunate not to be sent off in the match (Picture: Getty)

Danny Murphy, sat beside Shearer on the Match of the Day studio, was similarly scathing of Arsenal’s lacklustre showing on the day.

However, the former Liverpool and Tottenham midfielder made sure to applaud Brighton’s ‘brave’ performance and backed Fabian Hurzeler’s side to cause problems for a number of teams this season.

‘Arsenal were second best in every department and I have to say, I haven’t seen a team do that to Arsenal for a long, long time,’ Murphy said.