How do you feel about Brighton's start to the season?published at 15:58 BST 23 September
15:58 BST 23 September
As we enter the first international break, we want to hear your thoughts on the opening five games of the Premier League season.
Brighton have experienced a strong start to this top-flight campaign, winning three out of their first five matches, leaving them sitting third in the table.
Although the Seagulls conceded four goals against Chelsea in their second league game, Fabian Hurzeler's side have only conceded three goals in their following four matches in all competitions.
How do you rate Brighton's start to the season and why? And what should Hurzeler be focusing on during the extended break?
Kostoulas & Vuskovic shining for high-flying Seagullspublished at 12:08 BST 23 September
12:08 BST 23 September
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Brighton are flying high under the youngest manager in the top flight after five games of the Premier League season.
Fabian Hurzeler guided his side to a 3-0 victory against Arsenal on the 125-year anniversary of the club in style - and the Seagulls sit in a very pleasing third place in the table.
Former Brighton midfielder Warren Aspinall told Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast that the Gunners were "out-thought and out-battled".
"We suffocated them. From minute one we were at it. Yasin Ayari was further up the pitch, and he set the press with Charalampos Kostoulas, who was excellent again."
Greece striker Kostoulas has been involved in six goal involvements in Brighton's eight opening fixtures of the season and has proved a key figure in Hurzeler's side.
"Kostoulas has had to work for every goal that he has got. He is contributing as well with assists. What I like about him is he gets half a yard, and he gets a shot away. I have liked him from the off. You can tell there is a player in there," added Aspinall.
As well as Kostoulas being a shining light, Croatia defender Luka Vuskovic has grown into his starting position.
Former Seagulls defender Guy Butters said the 19-year-old has been an "impressive" addition to the squad and that he "reads the game really well".
"I think with modern day football, everything is in front of you and that suits him. He reads the passes into the forwards.
"He is strong and good in the air. Going the other way, he is a threat as well. I was very impressed with him," added Butters.
Listen by hitting play above or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.
Listen to every Brighton game live on BBC Radio Sussex, with all the build-up and full commentary with Johnny Cantor and Warren Aspinall, and there is a full preview of all Seagulls' matches on Fridays at 18:00 in The Weekend Warm-up
Is getting into Champions League realistic for Brighton? published at 09:04 BST 23 September
09:04 BST 23 September
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BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club discussed whether Brentford and Brighton could qualify for the Champions League this season or in the near future.
Despite not being classed among England's 'big six', the two clubs have made consistently good decisions around managers and players - and have regularly finish in the top 10 of the Premier League as a result.
"They aren't massive football clubs," said BBC pundit Chris Sutton. "But they are clubs that have grown well and grown strong.
"If you look at the mess other clubs who are considered as big clubs are making at this moment in time, then you'd have to say 'why not?' if the model is working for both of them."
The Observer's Rory Smith added: "With Brighton there is the question mark of Europe this season and how that affects their form, because in an accumulative way it might stop their progress.
"Both teams are more than capable against the traditional elite, but there's a different pressure to win the number of games you need to in order get into the Champions League."
'We deserve to win something - this could be the year'published at 17:49 BST 22 September
17:49 BST 22 September
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your views on what Brighton can achieve this season after the Seagulls beat Arsenal 3-0 to climb up to third in the Premier League, with 10 points from their opening five matches.
Here are some of your comments:
Steve: Obviously we need to stay grounded but if we can have a season not being a feeder club we could achieve something amazing and then we can attract the established big names to keep us fighting for the top six year after year. We deserve to win something and this could be the year.
Joe: This may read as a bizarre statement as a lifelong fan - I do not want Brighton to win any silverware this year. A highly entertaining season playing attractive football? Yes please. Winning silverware? No thanks. It'll just give the club an excuse to put prices up across the board as evidenced by the 'big' clubs. Having said that, I'd hope Tony Bloom would be better than that if a trophy arrives, which I'm sure he is.
Nicholas: Brighton have set the bar for other clubs. Well run and able to find diamonds that other clubs can't. Next step is strengthening for Europe. This season will be a test of how far the club has come. Chants of "seagulls pecking" might become a regular occurrence.
Matthew: The Albion are better placed than any of the previous two seasons under Hurzeler to achieve "something special" this season, perhaps that elusive trophy, or a second top-six finish. The sky is the limit for this squad, which is now deeper than ever, ruthlessly dismantling the champions despite numerous injuries to key players.
So why should we be cautious before getting too excited? After the long momentum-sapping international break we have our first run of European games either side of Premier League games that will provide no respite.
The fading light plus wind, rain and dropping temperatures have in the past two seasons been accompanied by fading form and frustration from fans. Whether we can better navigate the winter months and rotate our squad effectively will determine whether this season will be a special one.
Simon: If these levels of performance are maintained, that is a 76-point season! Is this achievable? Or can it be bettered? Who knows...
The three little Bs, who I wrote about more than once last season, are at it again, fearlessly going for blood against the big dogs.
Both Brighton and Brentford will sit in the top four for the three weeks of the international break, with Bournemouth finding their feet under a new manager.
Their success should now not be surprising. In the last four seasons Brighton have averaged an eighth-place league finish - astonishing for a smaller provincial club outwith the major cities.
Arsenal's three-goal capitulation was initially a shock, but should it still be a surprise down at Brighton?
This season, the Seagulls have also scored three against Chelsea and Manchester United, four against Tromso and Aston Villa while slapping Coventry with five.
This does not look like a lucky run of form or a purple patch on the pitch; this looks like who they are now.
Bournemouth were sixth last season and I think Brighton could do even better than that this time round.
The likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Villa are each capable of getting their acts together after early stumbles, but the chance of reaching the Champions League has never seemed so achievable for the more pocket-sized Premier League clubs.
During the second half of the recent Carabao Cup demolition of Manchester United at Old Trafford, I started to think "this team is very special".
The Reds had a few youngsters playing that night, but after going 2-0 down Fabian Hurzeler's men played some of the cleverest, quickest, most intricate passing football I have seen in years.
The incredible pace with which they pressed the opposition only added to the heady, unstoppable mix.
Pat Nevin writes weekly in the Football Extra newsletter. If you're outside the UK and would like to receive it, sign up here.
How high can Brighton and Brentford finish?published at 11:51 BST 22 September
11:51 BST 22 September
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BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton says "it will be really interesting to see how far" Brighton and Brentford can challenge for a top-six finish in the Premier League.
Brighton and Brentford sit third and fourth in the Premier League table respectively following strong starts to the 2026-27 season.
"If you look at the start Brighton have had, the depth they have and the way they play then it will be really interesting to see how far they go," said Sutton on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.
"I am slightly reluctant about Brentford because I don't think they've done as much business as Brighton and had a big influx of players.
"That means they have to be on the right side of injuries like they were last season. That's a big deal because you need the strength and depth to really go deep and long into a season."
The Observer's Rory Smith added: "Brighton have said that because they are in Europe they set out to have a deeper squad than normal this season. Brentford just missed out on Europe so that might be the explanation for why one is busier [in the market] than the other.
"I think their models are different. Brentford aren't really about signing players to sell them on as much as Brighton are.
"Bryan Mbeumo was a big one, but it's not their priority.
"I'm sure Mamadou Sangare will go for a huge sum of money in the next year or two, and Igor Thiago if he can keep his scoring ratio up, but the market they shop in shows their priority isn't reselling like Brighton."
'Perfect game' for Seagulls in 'special' win over Gunners - Andrespublished at 07:53 BST 22 September
07:53 BST 22 September
Image source, Getty Images
After joining Brighton on deadline day for a fee worth £15.5m, Chema Andres has settled into life on the south coast with back-to-back wins in his first two starting XI appearances.
The former Real Madrid academy graduate made his first start for the Seagulls in their 3-2 comeback victory against Manchester United, which was then followed by his first league start in the emphatic 3-0 victory over Arsenal as the weekend.
The 21-year-old told Radio Sussex that the win was the "perfect game" and it was "special" to mark his first start in the league with a memorable victory.
"We had the intensity, the energy, the ability to play against this amazing team," he said. "We deserved the win. I think the togetherness and the commitment the team had was amazing from minute one to 95.
"First in the starting XI in the Carabao Cup, and now in the league. Two amazing wins against great teams. Some friends here are visiting me. My family were not able to come, but they were watching the game together in Spain."
Andres will now join Spain's under-21 national side as they face Finland, San Marino and Romania in their final three group games of the Under-21 European Championship qualification.
"I really enjoy being there with my country and my good friends that I have not seen in a long time. It is also good to disconnect and relax a little bit and get your head out of the Premier League. But I think after this win we will want to come back as soon as possible and keep going," he added.
Fabian Hurzeler's side suffered a 4-3 defeat by Chelsea in August but they have otherwise started the 2026-27 campaign in "magnificent" style, as stated by former Premier League players Jobi McAnuff and Alan Shearer.
"Champions of England, they said. We have absolutely dismantled Arsenal at home, easy as you like," said Mirzadeh, who provides video reaction and analysis as part of BBC Sport's Fan Collective.
"I might be jumping the gun a little bit here, but I just feel like something special is brewing at the club.
"We have exciting young players, who are absolutely fearless going into any game. We have an exciting manager, who has got the number of some top managers so far. We have Tony Bloom at the top, who is an absolute expert at what he does.
"It could be a really special season - you never know what could happen."
As much as Hurzeler recognised the "special win" over Arsenal, the head coach urged his players to "stay humble" going into the three-week international break.
What do you think the Seagulls could realistically achieve this season?
🎧 A perfect celebrationpublished at 16:35 BST 21 September
16:35 BST 21 September
On the latest Albion Unlimited podcast, BBC Radio Sussex's Johnny Cantor is joined by ex-Brighton players Guy Butters and Warren Aspinall as they review the Seagulls' emphatic 3-0 win over Arsenal.
Plus, hear an interview with Albion midfielder Chema Andres.
Listen by pressing play below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.
Listen to every Brighton game live on BBC Radio Sussex, with all the build-up and full commentary with Johnny Cantor and Warren Aspinall, and there is a full preview of all Seagulls' matches on Fridays at 18:00 in The Weekend Warm-up
'Relentless' Brighton 'good enough to get into the top five'published at 14:39 BST 21 September
14:39 BST 21 September
Image source, Getty Images
Former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison says he has "never seen" a team smother Arsenal like Brighton did on Saturday.
The Seagulls dismantled the Gunners 3-0 to inflict the first defeat of the season on the reigning league champions.
Fabian Hurzeler's side are the top flight's leading scorers so far with 16 goals - six more than the next highest in Brentford and Chelsea.
"I think they are good enough to get into the top five this season," Morrison told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.
"They are relentless. The tempo, the way they close down - I've never seen Arsenal like that. It could have been more.
"They were creating more chances. [David] Raya didn't have his best afternoon but he made a few very good saves as well. Conceding from set-pieces is very unusual for Arsenal, usually they are the ones that are the threat.
"I thought Brighton's tempo and style of play was fantastic. They did it without three of their most important players in Jack Hinshelwood, Karou Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh. They are still winning matches.
"Brighton's recruitment is outstanding. They bring in players you have never heard of and make them into gems and sell them on. They are fantastic in what they do."
Brighton suffocated Arsenal - and there is much more to comepublished at 11:20 BST 21 September
11:20 BST 21 September
Chris Wise BBC Final Score reporter at The Amex Stadium
Image source, Getty Images
I've not seen any team suffocate Arsenal in the way Brighton did on Saturday.
They forced them into uncharacteristic errors, they physically outmatched them, and, perhaps most impressively, they just kept attacking them - even when they had a three-goal lead.
By the end, Arsenal looked so weary. They'd been ground down by Brighton so much that they had nothing left.
What has gone under the radar a bit with the Seagulls is the sheer number of injuries they're contending with at the moment. The latest absentee at the weekend was Lewis Dunk. That's a lot of experience to lose when you're preparing to face the champions.
However, there's a couple of 19-year-old's who have been playing beyond their years.
Luka Vuskovic looked classy again at the back, and clearly has the traits of a ball-playing centre-back, which suits this Brighton team well. Given Spurs' predicament, I'm questioning why he was allowed to leave.
The other impressive teenager is Charalampos Kostoulas. He's a real handful, and made life exceptionally tough for what is usually a rock solid Arsenal defence.
There's more to come from him, and - if this weekend is anything to go - there is much more to come from Brighton too.
Ed: Hats off to Huerzeler. He has managed to meld a team containing several new signings and relative newcomers into a formidable force capable of making the champions look very ordinary. Outstanding across the park and from start to finish. The Amex was rocking when we weren't open-mouthed at the intensity, fitness and skill. We trusted the process and were rewarded with one of the most complete team performances I've ever seen.
Martin: A great effort leaving Brighton looking like contenders for Champions League football next year. One of Brighton's finest displays. Certainly going to ruffle some feathers this season if it continues.
James: Exciting times ahead for Brighton. Arguably playing the most attractive football of any team. Fearless football.
Dawid: Another excellent team performance with the goals being shared around and a clean sheet against arguably the best Premier League team. With the international break upon us, we can expect some of our injured players to have recovered. How can the manager possibly replace any of the current team? What an enviable problem for him.
Arsenal fans
Philip: A blip was inevitable at some point. The only thing we did positively was to hold the ball - yet we didn't know what to do with it. We were completely discombobulated against Brighton - offensively and defensively. And Brighton were first class - we were rightly humbled. Now we must learn.
Harry: I've been a fan for over 70 years. Some were good years, some less so. So we lost to Brighton - it's just one game. True fans will get behind the team and lift the lads. They certainly won't play as badly again this season.
Kevin: Poor performance but all credit to Brighton. We seem unable to change tactics. Two of Brighton's goals came from outside the box but Arsenal continue to try to walk the ball over the goalline when we have players who can score from distance.
Vince: Brighton deserved their win but it is by no means the end of the world. We gave them too much space in front of the defence for the first two goals - which would probably not have been there if the more defensive-minded Lewis-Skelly had played instead of Bruno. In hindsight, this wasn't the right game to bed a new midfield combo, First, the previous one won us the first four league games and secondly, Brighton is in a mini hot streak of their own. But let's regroup, make those minor tweaks and come back stronger than ever.
'A perfect afternoon' - De Cuyper on Brighton's 'fight'published at 08:02 BST 21 September
08:02 BST 21 September
Image source, Getty Images
Reacting to Brighton's 3-0 win over Arsenal on Saturday and the hosts' gameplan, Maxim de Cuyper told BBC Radio Sussex: "Just fight when we don't have the ball and produce quality when we do have the ball.
"That's what we try to do every game [bring intensity]. We don't succeed every game from the start, but if we do that we can make it difficult for a lot of the teams, even last year's champions.
"It was a complete afternoon - stadium full, big opponent, three points at home. Just a perfect afternoon.
"Everyone wants to do at least as much as last season and achieve Europe."
'Brave' Brighton put in 'complete' performance - Murphypublished at 11:12 BST 20 September
11:12 BST 20 September
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Match of the Day pundit Danny Murphy praises Brighton's "incredible" performance in their 3-0 win over Arsenal, predicting they will cause problems for Premier League teams this season.
'Brighton absolutely battered Arsenal'published at 19:08 BST 19 September
19:08 BST 19 September
Image source, Getty Images
Former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer on BBC Radio 5 Live: It should have been more, the chances Brighton created, they were that good. They absolutely battered Arsenal. How many times have we said that recently? From start to finish today Brighton were magnificent. Every single one of them played their part.
"They were strong, they were fit, they went after Arsenal. They had no fear and it worked brilliantly for them, it should have been six or seven goals.
"Every time they chased down the ball, they got it absolutely spot on. They did it as a team, they didn't do it individually. They thought we respect Arsenal but we're not going to give them any space to play. The organisation was great and that just doesn't happen on its own and you've got to give Fabian Hurzeler credit for that."
Analysis: Fearless Seagulls rewarded for attacking approachpublished at 18:03 BST 19 September
18:03 BST 19 September
Alex Howell Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Brighton came into this match as the league's top scorers and did not disappoint with their attacking mindset.
But they worked hard in possession and when battling for the ball to deny Arsenal the space in which they thrive.
Diego Gomez on the wing did an excellent job of keeping Riccardo Calafiori quiet, while Charalampos Kostoulas caused problems for the Gunners backline throughout.
The 19-year-old Greece international deserved his excellent goal, which was his third in successive games, as he looks to show he can step up to be Brighton's main striker following Danny Welbeck's summer departure to Chelsea.
But he was well supported by his team-mates, with Spaniard Chema Andres marking his first league start with a first goal for the club.
And then there was the 35-year-old Pascal Gross, who has rolled back the years with his performances so far.
The German, who rejoined the club in January from Borussia Dortmund, was again the conductor of Brighton's play and now has four goals in his last five games.
Fabian Hurzeler's side are packed with young talent and have a fearless approach that will cause problems and concern for any side - as both Manchester United and Arsenal found out over the past week.
Brighton 3-0 Arsenal: What Hurzeler and Gross saidpublished at 17:36 BST 19 September
17:36 BST 19 September
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Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "It was a special win. Not only because we played the best team in England but because of the performance. I am really proud of my team.
"It's always important to enjoy these moments. We were horrible to play against.
"Intensity, intensity, winning the personal duels...we have to have the belief to compete with the best teams in the league. My players really trust each other on the pitch. If one player is out then another can replace him.
"Overall we wanted to be really good in every phase. We needed to be at the highest level. We go game by game. After the international break we have a lot of games. After wins like this we have to stay humble and understand why we had this win. We have to keep on going."
On Pascal Gross: "He enjoys himself on the pitch scoring goals. You can really trust him and he makes the team-mates around him really better."
Brighton's Pascal Gross, speaking to MOTD: "I thought we showed great intensity, waited for mistakes and punished Arsenal. It was a strong performance, a very complete performance.
"We won the ball high up and attacked really fast. After the last two wins we are full of confidence and wanted to finish really strong before the international break.
"I feel really good. I can't complain. I just try to help the team when I can. I really enjoy life in Brighton, I'm loving it.
"I know after the international break we play every three days and a lot of the lads are not used to that. It will be tough. I hope we can compete. We have a big squad this season."
Did you know?
Brighton have now won at home against the reigning Premier League champions in each of the last three seasons, beating Manchester City in 2024-25, Liverpool in 2025-26 and Arsenal today.
No player has been involved in more Premier League goals this season than Brighton's Gross (six – three goals, three assists), who scored and assisted against Arsenal today.
Brighton are the highest goalscorers in the Premier League this season, with their 16 goals the most by a side in their first five games since Man City in 2022-23 (19).
