Brighton have won six of their last seven Premier League matches
- Published4 minutes ago
Few, if any,Brightonsupporters could have anticipated just how impressive their side would be during the opening 10 games of the Premier League season.
A 2-0 victory overBrentfordat the Amex Stadium on Sunday afternoonlifted 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 aboveManchester City,who suffered a shock 3-1 defeat at Nottingham Forestless than 24 hours earlier, and underline their position as the closest challengers to leadersArsenal.
With a five-point gap to the Gunners, that is certainly the case for now, althoughBrighton'sinfluential 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?
'The football they're playing is outstanding'
Gross has made more than 290 appearances across two spells at Brighton
As each week passes, though, it is becoming increasingly difficult to dismissBrighton's credentials.
Having won seven of their opening 10 Premier League matches, including beatingArsenalandManchester 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.
Brightonhave 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 asBrighton'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 againstBrentford, 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 leadersArsenalhave been more impressive thanBrighton, 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 expectBrightonto achieve," formerEvertonmidfielder 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 forBrightonas Yankuba Minteh made his first Premier League appearance of the season againstBrentford.
The Gambia forward, who was the subject of an unsuccessful bid fromLiverpoolduring the summer, has been one of their most dangerous attacking players since joining fromNewcastle Unitedin 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.
What information do we collect from this quiz?'Now time to make most of their ability for own success'
Arsenal have won nine of their 10 Premier League games this season, losing only to Brighton
There is a feeling an opportunity could be seized in the title race this season.
AlthoughArsenalhave 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 atBrightonin September.
Elsewhere,Manchester Cityfell 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 visitArsenalon 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,Brightonwould, based on the current standings, emerge asArsenal's most realistic title challengers.
In fourth and fifth spot areLiverpoolandChelsea, the only two sides to have beatenBrightonin 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 forBrightonto 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."
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