Losing to Brighton was never going to be easy to accept, but it was the manner of Arsenal's performance that hurt the most after a shambles of a 2-1 away defeat.
The Gunners got exactly what they deserved in an appalling defensive first-half performance as goals from Lewis Dunk and Glenn Murray put Brighton 2-0 up.
Arsenal's confidence continues to dip in a run of torrid results and the visitors didn't even really get going until the closing minutes of the half, so Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's well-taken goal at least kept the match alive.
Arsenal improved in the second half, but other than one superb save from Brighton goalkeeper Mathew Ryan, we really didn't trouble the Seagulls enough.
Credit to Brighton for doing a number on us and Colombian winger Jose Izquierdo was very impressive, but we should be doing far better in games like this.
The fact that many fans including myself weren't feeling as confident as we should have been ahead of this kind of fixture shows just how bad things have got and confidence is at an all-time low.
Mesut Ozil's body language in the first half looked that of someone disinterested in the match and, although I don't want to over analyse something like this as it could be misinterpreted, it is rather worrying.
Arsene Wenger has to take a huge portion of the responsibility for the shambles we saw out there, but the players also need to take a long hard look at themselves for that performance.
Arsenal wasted a few early opportunities as Alex Iwobi's shot was blocked by the defence before Ozil sent an effort over the crossbar soon after.
Those misses chances proved costly as Brighton opened the scoring after seven minutes - Shane Duffy headed the ball down from a corner and Dunk was on hand to turn the ball home.
Petr Cech had to be alert to save a shot from Pascal Gross before Dunk sent his next headed effort over the bar as Brighton continued to push forward.
Although we were a goal down we were having some decent possession, but what was disappointing is how little we were doing with it and on too many occasions we gifted the ball to them. Before this match we had only scored 15 goals in our last 14 away league games and that is a truly unacceptable statistic.
Cech made another save to keep the score down before Duffy sent a header over the bar, but Arsenal's number one goalkeeper was unable to do anything about Brighton's second goal after 26 minutes. Sloppy passing gifted possession back to the hosts and Murray peeled away from the disappointing Shkodran Mustafi to head home Gross' cross.
Gross wasted the chance to extend Brighton's lead when he shot straight at Cech and it took until around the 37 minute mark for Arsenal to start to threaten in attack. Ryan produced a decent save at his near post to deny Henrikh Mkhitaryan before the Gunners finally got on the scoresheet two minutes before the break. Granit Xhaka cleverly picked out Aubameyang, who flicked the ball into the net from close range.
Arsenal very nearly grabbed an equaliser in first-half stoppage time, but Laurent Koscielny's effort hit a post. Had the first half gone on longer maybe we could have turned it around as we were finally starting to play, but the chunk of the game that preceded this was far too woeful.
The Gunners showed more intent in the second half, but didn't produce enough quality in the final third. Mkhitaryan saw his effort comfortably gathered by Ryan, before the Australian goalkeeper produced a superb save to keep out Ozil's swerving shot from outside of the box.
Ryan made a rather routine save to keep out Mustafi before clawing Aubameyang's effort to safety. It was another important save, but the fact we didn't force Ryan into action more often is a big cause for concern.
There was a big talking point when Sead Kolasinac put in a strong challenge on Ezequiel Schelotto, who had to be substituted soon after. There wasn't any malice in the challenge, but as the full-back had already been booked he could maybe count himself lucky not to be punished further.
Brighton more than deserved to be ahead, but wasted some decent chances to put the result beyond doubt. The impressive Izquierdo shot wide before Murray was later put clear, but luckily for Arsenal he didn't have the pace to cause more damage.
Arsenal tried in vain to get back into the game as Mkhitaryan's shot deflected behind for a corner.
Brighton then put the ball in the net for a third time, but Murray's effort was rightly disallowed for offside.
Time was fast running out for Arsenal and their disappointing afternoon was summed up with four chances wasted in the final minutes of the match.
Substitute Eddie Nketiah's header was straight at Ryan before Ozil saw his effort deflected behind by Brighton full-back Bruno. Jack Wilshere sent a shot off target before officials signalled seven minutes of stoppage time.
We failed to use the extra minutes effectively, although came close to snatching a point at the death. Substitute Hector Bellerin headed the ball back across goal for Aubameyang, but the striker's shot on the turn was well saved by Ryan.
Cech's tweet after the match summed up the performance where he admitted you can't win a game away from home in the Premier League when you concede two goals like he did. As he rightly pointed out "the team fought back, but the damage was done". The damage has been done in the first half too often lately and it isn't good enough.
OPPOSITION VIEW
Brighton fan Kevin Ticehurst was over the moon after what was a great victory in his side's bid for survival as the Seagulls soared up to 10th in the table.
"Absolutely amazing, I’m literally still in shock," said Ticehurst. "Every time we came forward we looked like we were going to score, we had six shots on target in the first half.
"We looked so so dangerous going forward, we panicked when Arsenal got in or round our 18 yard box. Not sure how Kolasinac has stayed on the pitch!
"We punished every misplaced passed Arsenal did and caused so many problems at the back.
"Wenger will be gone now for sure. This result is huge for us and I see it as another three points towards safety!"
MY FINAL THOUGHTS
Although we have had a poor 2018 teams like Chelsea have been dropping points, which to some could have meant an opportunity to close the gap and a fighting chance of fourth. Instead we have imploded and stay sixth, with seventh-placed Burnley only five points behind us.
The season can't end quick enough and the Europa League presents our best chance of getting any kind of consolation out of a torrid campaign.
The two-legged round of 16 tie against AC Milan, sandwiched either side of the visit of Watford, now increases in magnitude and the performance will have to improve drastically if we are to avoid another drubbing.
Milan are beatable, but I don't feel that hopeful ahead of the tie. On our day we can be devastating, but those days are coming far too rarely these days and our frail defence has been at the fore instead.
Wenger needs to change tactics as he has got things horribly wrong and the players need to take a long hard look at themselves and show more pride in the shirt.
I can't help but feel nervous ahead of the trip to face AC Milan and I just hope that the Gunners can somehow prove me wrong.
I'll never forget the good times Wenger gave us earlier in his reign, but our consistently dire performances of late can't go on and change is needed.
Focus needs to switch 100% to not giving ourselves a mountain to climb in the second leg. We need a fast strong start and to take the game to the Italian outfit.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
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