LONDON: Not since 1977 have things been this bad at Arsenal.

The struggling Gunners slumped to a 2-1 home loss to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Thursday, taking the team’s winless streak to nine games in all competitions its worst run in 42 years.

Interim coach Freddie Ljungberg clearly hasn’t found a quick fix to all the problems that plagued the team under Unai Emery who was fired last week and the Gunners looked completely shorn of confidence against a Brighton side that dominated large parts of the game.

Neal Maupay headed in a deserved winner for the Seagulls 10 minutes from time after Alexandre Lacazette had cancelled out Adam Webster’s opener for Brighton.

Defeat leaves Arsenal in 10th place and 10 points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea in the hunt for Champions League qualification next season.

On this evidence there is little chance of Ljungberg landing the job on a permanent basis as another sparse crowd at the Emirates greeted the final whistle with a chorus of boos.

After a 2-2 draw at Norwich City on Sunday in the first match since Emery was sacked, there was again no sign of a new manager bounce for Ljungberg’s home bow as Brighton dominated the first 45 minutes and could have gone in at the break more than one goal to the good.

“You cannot give away a whole half against any team in the Premier League,” said Ljungberg. “We did not show up in the first half, we very passive, we didn’t move. We had chat at half-time, made a tactical change and all of a sudden we looked like the team we wanted to for 20 minutes.”

Webster put the visitors ahead in the 36th after Arsenal failed to clear the ball inside the box.

Ljungberg’s halftime talk seemed to have worked as Arsenal came out with a renewed sense of urgency, and Lacazette equalised with a looping header five minutes after the break.

Arsenal kept pushing forward and had spells of pressure, but instead it was Maupay who headed home the winner at the other end in the 80th minute.

Victory for Brighton takes them to within a point of Arsenal and four clear of the relegation zone.

“We had lots of quality and courage,” said Brighton boss Graham Potter, whose side enjoyed more possession and more shots on goal than the hosts. “The main stat is the scoreline. At the end it’s nice for the players and supporters that you get a reward for the way we are trying to play.”

Elsewhere, Newcastle taught Sheffield United a lesson in taking their chances as the Magpies won 2-0 at Bramall Lane despite enjoying just 27 percent possession.

Allan Saint-Maximin headed the visitors in front with his first goal for the club and Jonjo Shelvey secured the three points when he played on as the Blades defence stopped at the sight of the offside flag going up against Andy Carroll.

A VAR review showed Carroll was onside as he flicked the ball into Shelvey’s path.

“VAR is becoming too difficult for everyone. I don’t think anyone knows where they are with it,” said Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder. “The game has changed, it’s a new game. What we are having to deal with, we’re having to learn on the job. “

The win brings Newcastle level with Sheffield and Arsenal on 19 points in midtable.

Published in Dawn, December 7th, 2019