THE so-called “new normal” could scarcely feel more similar for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal. Despite leading with less than 20 minutes to play, the Gunners fell to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of relegation-battling Brighton at the weekend.

The defeat was compounded by a serious knee injury to goalkeeper Bernd Leno who was stretchered off after falling awkwardly under a cynical challenge by Brighton’s Neal Maupay. The German, who’s been one of the team’s standout performers since the league’s resumption, is expected to be out for the remainder of the season, deepening Arsenal’s rapidly escalating injury crisis.

Meanwhile, the last-gasp win for Brighton, sealed in the 94th minute by the villainous protagonist Maupay could be one of their most important of the season with such a tough run-in to endure. Taking three points here and completing the double over Arsenal, having won the reverse fixture by the same scoreline in December, was a massive triumph for Graham Potter’s side in their bid to beat the drop.