Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Vs Brighton: 5 things we learned – You have got to be kidding?

By Andrew Dowdeswell

Brighton's French striker Neal Maupay (unseen) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal during the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Arsenal at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on June 20, 2020. (Photo by Gareth Fuller / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by GARETH FULLER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Brighton's French striker Neal Maupay (unseen) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal during the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Arsenal at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on June 20, 2020. (Photo by Gareth Fuller / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by GARETH FULLER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by GARETH FULLER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
(Photo by GARETH FULLER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

1. Does Champions League hope finished?

When the Premier League season resumed, Arsenal harboured slim hopes of making a run at the Champions League places. They sat five points behind Manchester United with a game-in-hand. They initially lost that game in hand to Manchester City on Wednesday night, but entering Saturday’s match against Brighton, they still had a chance to make a strong start to the campaign’s resumption.

After Spurs and United drew 1-1 on Friday, with a victory, Arsenal would move above Spurs and to within three points of fifth place. At that point, the race is very much on. How different things look now. After a last-gasp defeat, however, the table paints a very different picture.

Arsenal are now six points behind United. Wolves and Sheffield United can pull six and seven points clear of them too with wins later this weekend. Chelsea can move to an uncatchable 11 points clear. It is very difficult to see how the Gunners can rescue their season from this point.

Next. Arsenal Vs Brighton: Player ratings. dark

The Champions League was always a tentative hope. What was much more important was that the team showed progress under Mikel Arteta. Nevertheless, those that believed that Arsenal could yet haul their way out of their own pit of despair will surely have lost all hope now. This was an utter disaster.