Soaring Seagulls send Arsenal into a damaging nosedive

Gunners No 1 Aaron Ramsdale: 'People have to show what they are made of and if they are ready for the fight. I know I am, I know the lads are'

Arsenal's Cedric Soares and Bukayo Saka tussle with Leandro Trossard of Brighton at the Emirates Stadium

ONE week and two defeats have taken Arsenal from top four favourites to fears they face another spell in the European wilderness next season. The fourth Champions League spot is very much local rivals Tottenham's to lose now, a fact which makes this late-season slump even harder for Arsenal to stomach.

Manager Mikel Arteta has been here before – the architect of his own demise with random tactics and selection - and managed to turn things around, so it is too soon to write him and Arsenal off. But he has to work out how to cope better with the absence of injured left back Kieran Tierney and star midfielder Thomas Partey before this weekend's match at Southampton or a blip will turn into a crisis.