Brighton 2-0 Brentford: Are ‘outstanding’ Brighton really Arsenal’s biggest title challengers?

As each week passes, though, it is becoming increasingly difficult to dismiss Brighton‘s credentials.

Having won seven of their opening 10 Premier League matches, including beating Arsenal and Manchester City, the Seagulls have shown quality as well as character.

But it is not just their league position that makes for impressive reading. Almost all of the underlying numbers point to a side capable of maintaining their early-season form.

Brighton have created the second-highest number of big chances (37) in the division and scored more goals (26) than any other side this term.

Much of their attacking threat has been driven by Gross, who rejoined the club from Borussia Dortmund in January, having left in 2024.

The German midfielder has spent seven-and-a-half years at the Amex across two spells, either side of his spell back in his homeland, and has re-established himself as Brighton‘s creative heartbeat this season.

Gross has created eight big chances in the Premier League, more than any other player.

As well as finding the back of the net against Brentford, he also created at least five chances for his team-mates.

It was the 27th time since the start of the 2017-18 season that Gross has created five or more chances in a single match, with only Kevin de Bruyne (48) and Bruno Fernandes (47) having managed more.

He admitted earlier this week: “I just keep going. I think I’m fit, I try to prepare as good as I can and try to help the team win games.”

At the other end of the pitch, only defending champions and current leaders Arsenal have been more impressive than Brighton, who have kept the joint-highest number of clean sheets (seven) and conceded the second-fewest goals (five) in the division.

“The way they’re playing at the moment, Champions League qualification is probably the minimum that you’d expect Brighton to achieve,” former Everton midfielder Leon Osman told BBC Sport.

“They look like a team that has really kicked on over the last 18 months. The football they’re playing is outstanding and they are a great team to watch.

“Can they win the league? I think it would be unexpected if they did, but I expected them to win something this year, whether that is a domestic trophy like the FA Cup or the Conference League.”

There was another welcome boost for Brighton as Yankuba Minteh made his first Premier League appearance of the season against Brentford.

The Gambia forward, who was the subject of an unsuccessful bid from Liverpool during the summer, has been one of their most dangerous attacking players since joining from Newcastle United in 2024.

Minteh’s return to fitness is expected to be followed closely by that of Kaoru Mitoma, who has been sidelined since May with a hamstring complaint.