Brighton & Hove Albion wore a special all-blue home kit to mark the club's 125th anniversary in their Premier League match against Arsenal. The symbolic gesture highlighted a journey from near extinction to top-flight stability, culminating in a 3-0 victory on Saturday.
The Seagulls, who usually play in blue and white stripes, took to the field in a solid blue shirt with the American Express sponsor also rendered in blue and barely visible. The club was officially founded on June 24, 1901, but chose the home fixture against Arsenal to celebrate the milestone several months after the actual date.
Head coach Fabian Hürzeler oversaw the occasion as his team delivered a commanding performance. The result lifted Brighton to third in the Premier League table with 10 points from five games.
From the brink to the elite
The anniversary kit served as a reminder of the club's dramatic history. In the summer of 1997, Brighton avoided relegation from the English Football League entirely on goal difference. Twenty years later, in 2017, they achieved promotion to the Premier League. This season represents their tenth consecutive year in the top division.
Their first spell in the old First Division lasted from 1979 to 1983. The current era of success is built on more solid foundations. The comprehensive win over Arsenal, with goals from Pascal Groß, Charalampos Kostoulas and Chema Andrés, demonstrated their current strength. Groß is the team's top scorer this season with three goals.
Brighton's form is strong, with three wins and a draw from their last five league matches. They face Sunderland away in their next fixture on October 10. The club continues to manage a significant injuries list that includes Evan Ferguson and Kaoru Mitoma.
The report in full is at en.as.com
On September 24, former Arsenal forward Paul Merson questioned Mikel Arteta's team selection for the 3-0 defeat at Brighton. Merson wrote in his Sky Sports column, "I’d like to ask Mikel Arteta what his thinking was behind playing Bruno Guimaraes over Myles Lewis-Skelly." The result on September 19 was Brighton's third consecutive league win, leaving them third in the table with 10 points.
