Brighton sit five points off Arsenal after beating Brentford
Brighton's 2-0 win over Brentford at the Amex Stadium on Sunday lifted the Seagulls into second place in the Premier League table, five points behind leaders Arsenal after 10 matches.
It was Brighton's sixth win in their last seven league games, a run that has included victories over both Arsenal and Manchester City. The result also moved Fabian Hurzeler's side above City, who suffered a 3-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest less than 24 hours earlier, their third successive league loss.
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Despite the position in the table, Brighton midfielder Pascal Gross played down any talk of a title race after Sunday's win. “No, we are not in a title race,” the 35 year old told Sky Sports. “But we have started the season really well. It's the beginning of the season. You see the Premier League, the margins and you look at the results, we are not getting carried away yet. Every game we have to suffer a lot. Sometimes it is momentum, but we are really pleased to head into the international break like this.”
The numbers behind the form
Brighton have scored more goals (26) than any other side in the division this season and have created the second highest number of big chances (37). Gross, who rejoined the club from Borussia Dortmund in January after an earlier spell at the Amex, has created eight big chances himself, more than any other player in the league.
Against Brentford, Gross scored and created at least five chances for team mates, the 27th time since the 2017-18 season he has created five or more chances in a single match. Only Kevin de Bruyne (48) and Bruno Fernandes (47) have done so more often in that period. “I just keep going,” Gross said. “I think I'm fit, I try to prepare as good as I can and try to help the team win games.”
Defensively, only Arsenal have been more impressive than Brighton this season. The Seagulls have kept the joint highest number of clean sheets (seven) in the league and conceded the second fewest goals (five).
Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman, speaking to BBC Sport, said Champions League qualification should be the minimum target for Brighton given their current level. “The way they're playing at the moment, Champions League qualification is probably the minimum that you'd expect Brighton to achieve,” Osman said. “They look like a team that has really kicked on over the last 18 months. The football they're playing is outstanding and they are a great team to watch. Can they win the league? I think it would be unexpected if they did, but I expected them to win something this year, whether that is a domestic trophy like the FA Cup or the Conference League.”
Arsenal's lead remains intact
Arsenal have won nine of their 10 league games so far this season, with their only defeat coming against Brighton in September, a 3-0 loss at the Amex. Manchester City face a trip to the Emirates on 29 November, though their season carries added uncertainty after being found guilty of breaching 114 Premier League financial rules, a verdict the club is appealing.
Liverpool and Chelsea, currently fourth and fifth, are the only two sides to have beaten Brighton in the league this season, but both are regarded as some distance off the pace required to sustain a title challenge.
Arsenal will head into the international break at the top of the table, with Brighton's strong underlying numbers suggesting the gap could remain tight when Premier League action resumes.
