Paul Merson savages Arsenal over what he saw after they conceded third goal vs Brighton

Arsenal legend Paul Merson was less than happy over what Gunners players did after going 3-0 down against Brighton in the Premier League.

Mikel Arteta's side went into the Saturday afternoon clash at the Amex Stadium with a 100 per cent record in this season's Premier League.

But that streak looked under threat as soon as an unmarked Pascal Gross squeezed the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty area on 23 minutes, with Charalampos Kostoulas making it two before the break. And when new signing Chema Andres made it 3-0 - in the second half with his first Brighton goal, Merson decided to speak his mind.

'Nobody wants the ball...' - Paul Merson furious at Arsenal

After Soccer Saturday host Simon Thomas passed back over to Merson to sum up Brighton's third goal, the Gunners legend fumed: "It was nearly Brighton again [to make it 4-0]... Kostoulas again, he gets in the box, he goes down and calls for a penalty. It's all Brighton.

"Declan Rice is going mad. He's getting the ball and nobody's showing. Nobody wants the ball. It's really disappointing from Arsenal at the moment. No-one wanting the ball.

"It's alright when everything goes well. It ain't going well today. Now you need players who are going to stand up, start getting on the ball and start making things happen. At the moment, that is not happening."

Paul Merson was not happy with Arsenal's performance vs Brighton (Image: Sky Sports)

Several minutes later, during his next summary, Merson continued his criticism: "I think Brighton would score again before Arsenal even scored a goal. Declan Rice has gone to right-back. I cannot even see Arsenal... at the moment, they don't even look like they're going to have a shot."

He described Bruno Guimaraes, making his first Premier League start for the Gunners, as 'a million miles off it', adding: "I said at half-time that he would come off, but he stayed on another 10 minutes or so. It was really quick for him - they closed him down.

"I don't care how good you are. If people get your head down and close you down and make you work, it becomes a leveller. And that's what Brighton have done.

"They haven't given anybody time on the ball to get their head up and pass it, and they've been absolutely brilliant. At the moment, I don't see Arsenal coming back."

Arsenal miss out on equalling 123-year club record

Arsenal could have equalled a club record of winning their first eight matches of a new season had they secured victory against Brighton.

They last did so in 1903, when the Gunners were playing in the Second Division of English football. After a mid-season blip, they recovered and won the second promotion spot behind Preston North End.

Arsenal's run this season began with their Community Shield victory over Manchester City, and includes their 4-2 victory over Ipswich in the Carabao Cup third round on Tuesday and their 1-0 win over Napoli in the Champions League group phase earlier this month.