The pressure on Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has intensified after his side slipped to a fourth successive defeat in all competitions with a 2-1 loss at Brighton and Hove Albion.
After a bright start from the visitors, Lewis Dunk volleyed in to give the home side the lead, ensuring Arsenal's run without a Premier League clean sheet stretched to 11 games - their longest such run since February 2002.
Glenn Murray's fifth goal in as many league games made it two for Brighton after 26 minutes, before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pulled one back for Arsenal two minutes before halftime.
Arsenal improved in the second half but Brighton held on to secure a third Premier League home victory in a row to go 10th, while an eighth defeat in all competitions in 2018 leaves Arsenal trailing north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who are fourth, by 13 points and two places.
"My future is not my main worry," Wenger said. "It is not the first time I have lost so many games in row. I still believe I can do it (turn things around)."
Arsenal made three changes from the side beaten by Manchester City on Thursday (local time), with Jack Wilshere returning to the starting XI, but the England international could only look on as Arsenal fell behind.
Petr Cech went up to claim a corner but was beaten in the air by Shane Duffy and Dunk was on hand to sweep home the loose ball.
Arsenal were struggling to cope with Pascal Gross's movement, and sure enough, Gross played a pivotal role in Brighton's second goal, curling a sublime cross into the middle for Murray to head home.
"We want Wenger out," came the cry from the away end but Arsenal did improve as the half wore on and they got themselves back into the game when Aubameyang flicked home Granit Xhaka's cross.
The visitors were in fact unlucky not to go into the break on level terms, after Laurent Koscielny's header came out off the post.
Arsenal continued to press after the interval, with Ryan forced into a fine save to deny Mesut Ozil.
Later, Manchester City moved within four wins of a third Premier League crown in six years with a 1-0 win over champions Chelsea.
Bernardo Silva continued City's inexorable march to the title with a well-worked goal in the 46th minute, moving Pep Guardiola's men to 78 points, 18 clear of second-placed Liverpool.
"We were fortunate to score and we are very happy to win the three points,"
Silva said. Of course it (the title) is getting closer and closer. We are happy with this season, but we have to keep going as we have the Premier League to win."
City completed 902 passes, more than any other team in a single Premier League match since 2003-04 when such statistics were first officially recorded.
Manchester United travel to Crystal Palace on Monday looking for a victory that would put them back above Liverpool in second.
Reuters
