Brighton 2 Arsenal 4

Brighton were good but league leaders Arsenal better.

The Seagulls had World Cup winner Alex Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo absent – as well as defenders Adam Webster and Joel Veltman – and it showed.

We have a stronger squad these days but you want to field your best team against such a strong outfit as the Gunners.

Their first minute lead through a Bakayo strike certainly did not make life easier and the excellent Martin Odergaard made it two.

When Eddie Nketiah added a third at the start of the second half it looked like game over.

The Seagulls rallied with 2 goals and – had not a third by the excellent Mitoma not been chalked off – there might have been a tense final 8 minutes.

VAR may improve decisions but not the drama of the game.

Still Brighton are still a top ten team and looking to hold onto their biggest stars like Mac Allister, Trossard and Caicedo.

If they do depart chairman Tony Bloom will drive a hard bargain and replacements like 18 year old Argentinian Buonanotte are already signed.