Are 'outstanding' Brighton now Arsenal's main title challengers?

Brighton have won six of their last seven Premier League matches

Few, if any, Brighton supporters could have anticipated just how impressive their side would be during the opening 10 games of the Premier League season.

A 2-0 victory over Brentford at the Amex Stadium on Sunday afternoon lifted the Seagulls into second place, leaving them to head into the November international break dreaming of what might be possible over the remainder of the campaign.

Their sixth win in seven Premier League matches was enough to move them above Manchester City, who suffered a shock 3-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest less than 24 hours earlier, and underline their position as the closest challengers to leaders Arsenal.

With a five-point gap to the Gunners, that is certainly the case for now, although Brighton’s influential midfielder Pascal Gross was reluctant to entertain such talk at this stage.

“No, we are not in a title race,” the 35-year-old told Sky Sports after Sunday’s success.

“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.”

But 10 years on from Leicester City’s title triumph against all odds, could they really achieve the impossible and win the Premier League?

As each week passes, though, it is becoming increasingly difficult to dismiss Brighton’s credentials.

Having won seven of their opening 10 Premier League matches, including beating Arsenal and Manchester City, the Seagulls have shown quality as well as character.

But it is not just their league position that makes for impressive reading. Almost all of the underlying numbers point to a side capable of maintaining their early-season form.

Brighton have created the second-highest number of big chances (37) in the division and scored more goals (26) than any other side this term.

Much of their attacking threat has been driven by Gross, who rejoined the club from Borussia Dortmund in January, having left in 2024.

The German midfielder has spent seven-and-a-half years at the Amex across two spells, either side of his spell back in his homeland, and has re-established himself as Brighton’s creative heartbeat this season.

Gross has created eight big chances in the Premier League, more than any other player.

As well as finding the back of the net against Brentford, he also created at least five chances for his team-mates.

It was the 27th time since the start of the 2017-18 season that Gross has created five or more chances in a single match, with only Kevin de Bruyne (48) and Bruno Fernandes (47) having managed more.

He admitted earlier this week: “I just keep going. I think I’m fit, I try to prepare as good as I can and try to help the team win games.”

At the other end of the pitch, only defending champions and current leaders Arsenal have been more impressive than Brighton, who have kept the joint-highest number of clean sheets (seven) and conceded the second-fewest goals (five) in the division.

“The way they’re playing at the moment, Champions League qualification is probably the minimum that you’d expect Brighton to achieve,” former Everton midfielder Leon Osman told BBC Sport.

“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.”

There was another welcome boost for Brighton as Yankuba Minteh made his first Premier League appearance of the season against Brentford.

The Gambia forward, who was the subject of an unsuccessful bid from Liverpool during the summer, has been one of their most dangerous attacking players since joining from Newcastle United in 2024.

Minteh’s return to fitness is expected to be followed closely by that of Kaoru Mitoma, who has been sidelined since May with a hamstring complaint.

There is a feeling an opportunity could be seized in the title race this season.

Although Arsenal have won nine of their opening 10 matches, they have arguably not been quite as convincing as they were during their title-winning campaign last season and were beaten 3-0 at Brighton in September.

Elsewhere, Manchester City fell further behind with a third successive league defeat on Saturday evening at the City Ground.

But even if Enzo Maresca’s side were to rediscover their form after the international break - and visit Arsenal on 29 November - there remains considerable uncertainty over how their season could unfold following their financial charges.

City were found guilty of breaching 114 Premier League financial rules by an independent commission earlier this year, three-and-a-half years after they were first charged by the league.

The club have since exercised their right to appeal the verdict and vehemently deny any wrongdoing.

However, should they fail in their appeal, City could face a significant points deduction or, in the most extreme scenario, expulsion from the Premier League.

Were that to happen, Brighton would, based on the current standings, emerge as Arsenal’s most realistic title challengers.

In fourth and fifth spot are Liverpool and Chelsea, the only two sides to have beaten Brighton in the league this season. But they appear to be enduring transitional campaigns and are currently a significant way off the pace required to mount a challenge.

Osman believed it was the perfect opportunity for Brighton to take advantage as he added: “They have taken time to build this team, letting some of their best players go and redoing the whole thing all over again.

“Now they just seem to be getting to a point where they’ll be keeping their best players.

“They are in this great position where it is now time to get the most out of all this ability for their own success, to benefit the club and the fans, rather than just for the financial gain of selling players on for huge profits.”

Bizarre & thrilling theatre as Carrick in limbo with Man Utd in drop zone

After yet another breathless, chaotic, shambolic Old Trafford classic, Manchester United do not know whether to laugh or cry.

Their fans didn’t, booing at some points, cheering at others.

Defender Diogo Dalot was singled out for gruesome treatment amid the second-half protests and songs of defiance as he was replaced by Patrick Dorgu in the 66th minute.

The players didn’t, running away joyously to celebrate Dorgu’s 96th-minute equaliser that made it 4-4 against Aston Villa.

They then applauded the supporters who stayed on despite the apparent hopelessness of the situation as the game entered injury time with United trailing 4-2, presumably to vent their anger on a day when defeat seemed certain.

Manager Michael Carrick was in spiky mood when he was quizzed about his future by Sky Sports reporter Patrick Davison.

“That’s not going to happen,” he said, when asked if he was going to walk away.

“Will there?” Carrick then added, when it was suggested there would “clearly be conversations” with United’s hierarchy.

“You’re telling me what you think,” he responded.

“I’m quite clear what direction the club needs to go in. It’s got to win games.”

That is the big question.

Sunday’s ridiculous eight-goal thriller with Villa - a game in which the hosts twice fought back from two goals down - left United in the drop zone in 18th place. Their lowest position for 40 years after playing at least 10 matches.

As they enter the international break, they will spend more time in the relegation zone than they have done since 1986.

United have not won a league game since they beat Ipswich on 30 August, have conceded 15 goals in their past five games and conceded inside two minutes in three of their past seven matches.

Three minutes and 40 seconds was the earliest they have ever trailed 2-0 in a Premier League game.

Up next is a trip to Anfield to play rivals Liverpool on 22 November.

On the positive side, United’s players have not downed tools for their manager.

Somehow, despite being two goals down on three occasions in the past two games, they have emerged with a win and a draw.

Added to a creditable first-half display in a 2-0 loss at Chelsea on 31 October where they had Lisandro Martinez sent off, before which Carrick was backed to turn the current situation round, was that enough for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family - and detached from this latest crazy day?

Was it enough for chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox who were at Old Trafford?

“On the one hand it’s dreadful to give up four goals at home,” former United skipper Roy Keane told Sky Sports. “But they kept going, so you have to give them a little bit of praise.”

“In terms of the bigger picture it’s that rollercoaster of watching Manchester United. When you turn up most weeks there really is the feeling of not knowing what you’re going to get.”

Former United striker Dion Dublin offered his own take to BBC Sport, saying: “There’s only so many times you can do that because it’s quite tiring, physically and mentally. The players today were walking around after the game like they had lost, even though they got a point.”

Some of the post-match interviews by United players backed up that observation.

“I don’t feel happy - we are in a bad situation,” admitted Dorgu. “We need to fight together to get out of it.”

“Everyone needs to look at themselves and ask if they are doing enough. We need to fight for the manager, for the club and get out of this together.”

The situation has not been made easier by fan sentiment.

Lack of form on the pitch, combined with the rising cost of ticket prices and a negative perception of how fans are being treated, has led to a negative reaction that is unprecedented in its ferocity since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

A banner was hung from the second tier of the Stretford End shortly before the teams came out to start the game. It read “We don’t want a new stadium, we want new owners”.

Full-back Dalot was jeered off the pitch when he was replaced by Dorgu, the catcalls replacing the cheers that greeted his number being shown.

Joshua Zirkzee, who scored United’s third in the second minute of injury time, suffered similar treatment during a game against Newcastle almost two years ago. The Netherlands forward was still on the bench when Dalot arrived and offered his team-mate a consoling hug.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery was livid by his side’s late capitulation, which cost him a first victory at Old Trafford.

Touted as a potential successor to Carrick, he regathered his composure after storming down the tunnel before the final whistle to assure United fans the club’s results will improve.

“They have the capacity, power, players and everything to overcome this situation,” said the Spaniard.

That is probably true. But from so many angles, the current position remains grim.

The Villa game was like a number so far this season - Everton away, Atletico Madrid away, Tottenham at home, Leeds away, Chelsea away - where either United have played well, or got themselves into winning positions in stoppage time and failed to secure victory.

Although the present situation can still be rectified, it now needs two lots of results to go Carrick’s way for the table to look more positive. Yet how long will it be before it is accepted that such anticipated improvement is not going to materialise?

Can United afford to wait until the January window opens? Have they got the resources to spend in it when it does?

These are bound to feed into the thinking of Ratcliffe, the Glazers, Berrada and Wilcox as they consider the future - plus the attractiveness of potential replacements.

For now, Carrick is still looking to a future he is certain will be brighter than what he has just endured.

“There’s more than enough,” he said, when asked if he had seen enough to believe the current situation can be improved.

“Goals change games and you’ve got to deal with it. It’s something we have to improve on drastically. We’re just making it too difficult for ourselves at certain times.”

“[The players] are switched on and concentrated, it’s a variety of things. There’s not a theme to it, apart from these one-off moments are catching us out at the moment.”

Not playing at Man City 'horrendous' - Trafford

James Trafford says not playing for Manchester City last season was “horrendous” before he moved to Leeds United in the summer in search of first-team football.

City re-signed academy graduate Trafford in July 2025, two years after he had left the club to join Championship side Burnley.

But less than six weeks after his arrival, Italy international Gianluigi Donnarumma arrived from Paris St-Germain.

The 27-year-old, who helped the French club win the Champions League just weeks earlier, immediately became City’s first-choice goalkeeper, leaving Trafford short of playing time.

After starting the first three matches of the campaign, 24-year-old Trafford made just one further Premier League start in the 35 games that followed Donnarumma’s arrival.

Speaking on Football Daily’s The Football Interview, Trafford reflected on the difficulties he encountered during a season on the fringes of Pep Guardiola’s squad.

“What a horrendous, horrendous feeling. Not playing,” said Trafford.

“You are ringing a lot of people and just venting. Like most people, you have a [bad] day at work and you ring someone up.

“I ring my dad, I ring my mum, I ring my missus, I ring my mates. I like ringing my mates and we can just have a good talk about it all. It’s quite funny.

“I had to play regularly this season for my own mental wellbeing. You just lose yourself not playing.

“Maybe I’m different, I don’t know, but the feeling of not playing every week, it felt horrendous.

“I just had to play every week this season for that mental feel-good and to keep progressing with my career and edging me closer to achieving the dreams I want to achieve.”

Despite his limited playing time, Trafford believes he still gained plenty from his final season at City, having helped the club win the League Cup and FA Cup after starting both finals at Wembley.

“Going into any season, I always have the highest of hopes and always the belief that it will go the best way it could,” he added.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t win all four trophies. It didn’t go how I expected it to go, but it happens.

“In the moment, I just tried to make the best of it as I could. Looking back, I don’t think it was a disappointing season in the end because I learned so much, I improved so much and I won two trophies in one year.

“There were moments when I was very down, regretting things and feeling disappointed, but looking back, I’m very thankful for the experience. What an incredible year.”

Trafford was part of England’s squad for the 2026 World Cup and, although he did not get game time, being part of Thomas Tuchel’s squad was an “incredible experience” that he says he will not forget.

“I didn’t play, but it is what it is,” said Trafford. “I didn’t expect to play when I got called up. I knew what my role was, but you just take as much experience as possible, learn from it and keep trying to win the day, because the more days you win, the better position you’re in.”

Next time around, though, Trafford hopes to be England’s starting goalkeeper and believes that if he continues his impressive performances with Leeds, that ambition is entirely achievable.

“It’s my aim and it’s something I’ve always dreamed of,” said Trafford.

“I always believe that one day I could be. Every day I try to keep improving to put myself in the best position to be England’s number one one day.

“I think everyone in the goalkeeping department with the national team wants to be number one because it’s an amazing position to be in.”

After returning from the World Cup, Trafford left City to join Leeds United in a deal worth up to £45m - a record for a British goalkeeper.

Since arriving at Elland Road, he has relished the opportunity to play regularly in the Premier League.

The former Bolton Wanderers and Accrington Stanley loanee has started all nine of Leeds’ Premier League matches this season, keeping three clean sheets, with only Brighton (seven) and Arsenal (five) having conceded fewer goals than Daniel Farke’s side (eight).

His performances have helped Leeds to 12th in the table before this weekend’s fixtures - just two points off the European places - and he says the club are only going to get better.

“I just think it’s an incredible club,” he said. “You look at the fanbase, everyone here - it’s an incredible place. It’s just somewhere that’s only going and getting better.

“We’d love to get back into Europe. I think every club you ask would like to get into Europe, so the main goal is just to keep on improving.”

Aldershot bolster defence with Robinson signing

Josh Robinson represented England at under-18s level, winning one cap against Russia

Aldershot have signed former Arsenal academy defender Josh Robinson on a permanent contract.

The 21-year-old right-back, who started against Ipswich Under-21s on Tuesday in the National League Cup, has been added to the squad in time for Saturday’s FA Cup first round tie at Barnsley.

Robinson had spells with Wigan Athletic and Kidderminster Harriers after leaving Arsenal.

“He’s been training with us for a few weeks now and has really impressed myself and the staff,” said Aldershot manager Scott Davies.

England 'disappointment' fuels Dewsbury-Hall's Everton heroics

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall let his performance do all the talking at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Friday night.

The Everton midfielder endured a disappointing start to his matchday preparations just hours earlier after learning that, despite his impressive performances in recent weeks, he had been overlooked by England manager Thomas Tuchel for this month’s Nations League fixtures.

It was a setback for the 28-year-old, who was tipped to earn a place in Tuchel’s latest squad but was ultimately left out, with Borussia Dortmund teenager Jobe Bellingham selected instead.

By the end of the night, though, Dewsbury-Hall had every reason to smile.

The midfielder was celebrating alongside the Everton faithful after his thunderous strike helped the Blues to a comeback victory over Coventry City, securing an impressive 3-1 win and lifting them to fifth in the Premier League table.

“It was a disappointing morning, I’m not going to lie. It’s a massive dream of mine to play for my country. I know I was close,” Dewsbury-Hall told Sky Sports after Everton made it back-to-back Premier League wins.

“[I’m] sad, yeah, but really proud of myself and how I have reacted. All I can keep doing is putting in good performances and hopefully one day I get the nod, because I’m never going to give up.”

The wait until the next international break in March will undoubtedly feel like an eternity for Dewsbury-Hall.

But the Everton midfielder is no stranger to taking the long road to success, having experienced plenty of setbacks and detours throughout his career.

He did not make his Premier League debut for boyhood club Leicester City until the age of 22, having spent previous seasons gaining valuable experience out on loan in the English Football League with Luton Town and Blackpool.

Even when his opportunity to establish himself in the Foxes’ first team finally arrived, it came during a turbulent period for the club, which ultimately ended in relegation from the Premier League at the end of the following season.

After playing a starring role in Leicester’s Championship-winning campaign under Enzo Maresca, the midfielder soon followed the Italian to Stamford Bridge in a deal worth £30m.

However, Dewsbury-Hall struggled for regular game time during his only season at Chelsea, featuring mainly in cup competitions with limited opportunities in the Premier League.

It was only after his move to Everton last summer, at the age of 26, that he appeared to have finally found the right environment to reignite his career and showcase the qualities that made him once such a highly regarded attacking midfielder.

Since the start of last season, Dewsbury-Hall has scored 11 goals for Everton in the Premier League and provided seven assists.

“I’m really, really enjoying it,” said Dewsbury-Hall. “I’ve got a really good hybrid role in this team, where the gaffer is giving me the freedom to pop up all over the pitch.”

Tuchel said on Friday afternoon that Dewsbury-Hall had been “very close” to earning a place in his squad, having enjoyed “a very good season” with Everton so far.

“I’ve got the mentality,” added Dewsbury-Hall. “I’ll keep pushing and pushing and see what happens.”

It was not just Dewsbury-Hall who caught the eye against Coventry, with Thierno Barry scoring twice in the space of five minutes at the start of the second half to help Everton come from behind.

By taking his tally for the season into double figures across all competitions, the 24-year-old - who struggled for both form and confidence after joining the Blues from Spanish side Villarreal last summer - has already surpassed the eight goals he scored last season.

In fact, only Erling Haaland, with 14 goals, has scored more in all competitions than Barry’s 10 this campaign for David Moyes’ side.

Not only is the French forward lighting up Hill Dickinson Stadium with his goals, he is also setting the place alight with his dance moves.

Barry has made a habit of celebrating every goal with some kind of viral dance move - and that was certainly the case on Friday night.

“I was on TikTok yesterday and I saw an NFL guy do the celebration. I said to Tyrique [George] that if we scored tomorrow, we would do the dance like that, but I think he was shy to do it, so I did the dance alone,” Barry told Match of the Day.

The former Basel and Villarreal frontman is also drawing inspiration from Haaland as he looks to maintain his impressive goalscoring form.

“I’m very happy because I’m a fan of him,” said Barry. “I watch a lot of videos of him and try and do the things he does. If I can play with him until the end to get the Golden Boot, I will try.”

Earlier in the night, Moyes equaled Harry Catterick’s record for the most games as Everton manager - with 592 matches each.

The late Catterick managed the Toffees from 1961 to 1973.

“I am proud,” Moyes said in Everton’s match programme.

“The thought of being the Everton manager who has managed the most games is something I’m very proud of.

“Everton has been huge for me and my family. My son David has gone everywhere and my father has lived it with us as well, watching it all.

“That’s so important. What is also so important is that I’ll always try to do the right thing for Everton Football Club.”