In summary
- The loss means Manchester City, which beat Everton 3-0 earlier in the day, can be crowned champions with a win against Chelsea next Sunday
- Arsenal only has two more games to play this season and the most points it can get is 87
Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes are almost over after losing 3-0 to Brighton on Sunday.
Second-half goals from Julio Enciso, Deniz Undav and Pervis Estupinan consigned Mikel Arteta’s once long-time league leaders to a punishing defeat at Emirates Stadium.
The loss means Manchester City, which beat Everton 3-0 earlier in the day, can be crowned champions with a win against Chelsea next Sunday.
City has 85 points — four more than Arsenal — and also has a game in hand.
Arsenal only has two more games to play this season and the most points it can get is 87.
City needs only one more victory from the final three games to retain its title, but won’t even need that if Arsenal loses against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Brighton’s win keeps alive its slim hopes of a top-four finish after moving up to sixth with games in hand on Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle.
Brighton, who are chasing a European qualification spot for the first time in their history, had already threatened with Enciso before the 19-year-old Paraguayan forward stunned the Emirates Stadium with his goal in the 51st minute.
This victory propelled Brighton above both Aston Villa and Tottenham into sixth place, accumulating 58 points, four points behind fifth-placed Liverpool, with an additional game in hand.
Arsenal’s maximum achievable points tally now stands at 87, while City has 85 points with fixtures against Chelsea (home), Brighton (away), and Brentford (away) still to be played.
