Arsenal star slammed as 'a million miles off it' sends message to fans after Brighton nightmare

The Gunners’ impressive 100 per cent start to the new season across all competitions was brought to a screeching halt at the Amex Stadium on Saturday as they crashed to a heavy 3-0 loss.

Fabian Hurzeler’s confident side now sit just one place and two points behind Arsenal in the early table in third, with Manchester City occupying top spot on goal difference ahead of a visit from Sunderland to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday having won every game so far this term.

It was a sobering afternoon on the south coast for the defending champions, who had won their last nine top-flight matches in a row and conceded only once this season but were blown away in their final outing before entering an extended three-week international break.

Few Arsenal players came out of the match with any credit and several were subject to stern criticism, with perhaps the strongest reserved for £75million summer signing Guimaraes - whom former Arsenal star Paul Merson described on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday as being “a million miles off it” as he said he should have been substituted at half-time.

Below par: Bruno Guimaraes endured a game to forget for Arsenal against Brighton

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As it was, the Brazilian international lasted an hour before being replaced by Mikel Merino, having started alongside Declan Rice in midfield after an impressive display in the 4-2 Carabao Cup win at Ipswich on Tuesday, with Myles Lewis-Skelly dropping to the bench.

It was Guimaraes’ first league start of a season that has been disrupted by injury, but the former Newcastle captain was unable to build upon his sensational goal against Sunderland last weekend.

“Definitely not the way we wanted to finish before the international break,” Guimaraes posted on Instagram after the loss at Brighton.

“We know this isn’t the level we should be at when wearing this shirt. We’ll work even harder when we’re back to make sure this doesn’t happen again. Thank you for your support, Gunners.”

Along with Arsenal team-mate Gabriel, Guimaraes will now jet off for international duty with Brazil, who play two friendlies in Australia before facing India in Kolkata in their first matches since a shock World Cup last-16 defeat by Norway in July.