Arsenal latest: Mikel Arteta holds stars accountable as Bruno Guimaraes told he's 'miles off'

Arsenal suffered their first defeat of the season as Mikel Arteta's side were comprehensively beaten 3-0 by Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday

Arsenal suffered their first defeat this season after Brighton tore them apart 3-0 on Saturday. One of the reigning Premier League champions' new recruits, Bruno Guimaraes, bore the brunt of the criticism post-match.

The Gunners' hunt for the top-flight title finally came to an end last season after they pipped Manchester City to the crown and to start this campaign, they were in impeccable form. Of the seven games Arsenal played prior to Saturday, they won every single match, conceding just three goals.

But the Seagulls put three past David Raya at the American Express Community Stadium in a rout, meaning that Mikel Arteta's side will head into the international break in second place.

Paul Merson critiques Bruno Guimaraes

Arsenal's new Brazilian midfield star lasted an hour on Saturday before being replaced by Mikel Merino and he acknowledged afterwards that it had been a poor performance.

Paul Merson, a Sky Sports pundit who made 423 appearances for the Gunners between 1985 and 1997, delivered a scathing verdict. He said: "A million miles off it. I said at half-time he would come off, but he's stayed on for another 10 minutes or so. It was really quick for him. They closed him down.

"I don't care how good you are. If people get your head down and close you down and make you work, it's a leveller and that's what Brighton have done. They have been absolutely brilliant."

Guimaraes played next to Rice for the full second half during Arsenal's most recent Premier League encounter against Sunderland. Arteta referenced this 2-0 victory when explaining why the midfield adjustment failed to deliver on this occasion.

"It worked extremely well when we played Sunderland away," he said. "Today, it didn't work for a lot of things that happened as well behind them to make sure that they could play a completely different game. That's something that will surely evolve. It's in its early stages. They only play together a few minutes and that relationship will for sure improve and give us a lot of joy."

Mikel Arteta's finger pointing

Prior to Saturday, Arsenal hadn't shipped three goals in a match since a December 2023 4-3 triumph over Luton Town. Arteta held his players accountable following the Brighton fixture, suggesting they were mistake-laden.

He said: "Brighton deserved to win the game. We didn't do the basics right for long periods, especially in the first half. We didn't win enough duels and any second balls and that stretches you. With the errors that we made and especially with the principles we didn't apply against a team that wants to press you.

"So that puts us constantly under pressure and didn't get out of that in the way we normally do. So a lot of things to learn and take, but ultimately disappointed."