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Arsenal logo
Premier League | Gameweek 38
May 23, 2021 at 4pm UK
Emirates Stadium
Brighton logo

Arsenal
2 - 0
Brighton

Pepe (49', 60')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton & Hove Albion: Gunners fail to qualify for Europe despite win

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton: Gunners fail to qualify for Europe despite win
© Reuters
Nicolas Pepe took his tally to nine from his last 13 Premier League starts.

Nicolas Pepe continued his fine end to the season by scoring twice as Arsenal beat Brighton but failed to qualify for Europe on the final day of the Premier League season.

The Gunners needed both Tottenham and Everton to drop points while also seeing off the Seagulls to seal seventh place and a spot in the inaugural Europa Conference League next year.

Arsenal did their bit and had Pepe to thank, the winger's two second-half strikes securing a 2-0 victory as 10,000 fans returned to the Emirates Stadium.

But Gareth Bale's late goals for Spurs at Leicester meant they finish above their north London rivals.

With muted protests against the club's owners before the game and director Josh Kroenke watching on from the stands, this could have been a powder keg of emotions had Arsenal lost.

Instead, Mikel Arteta's side won comfortably – although it proved not to be enough in their quest to maintain a 25-year run of European qualification.

Martin Odegaard, who returns to Real Madrid after the game, showed why Arsenal are so keen to keep hold of the Norway international as he ran the show.

Nicolas Pepe
Nicolas Pepe celebrates the second goal as fans returned to the Emirates (Neil Hall/PA)

There we also strong performances from Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka in the heart of the midfield.

Brighton were never really in the contest but did frustrate the home side for the opening 45 minutes, Partey and Xhaka coming close and Rob Holding bundling the ball over the line only to be flagged offside.

Arsenal came closest to breaking the deadlock just moments before the break when Gabriel Magalhaes sent a looping header against the crossbar.

But they would hit the front soon after the restart as Pepe continued a fine run of form, collecting a Calum Chambers pass and finishing coolly past Robert Sanchez.

Arsenal v Brighton and Hove Albion – Premier League – Emirates Stadium
Nicolas Pepe wraps up victory (Alastair Grant/PA)

The club's record signing would double the lead on the hour-mark, scoring his ninth goal from his last 13 Premier League starts having cut into the Brighton box and again finished with aplomb.

Partey would go on to strike the crossbar as Arsenal coasted to the three points to at least win in front of their returning supporters.

But the rebuild for Arteta and the club starts now in earnest with no silverware or European football at the end of a taxing season.

The majority of fans remained in place for a lap of honour from the Arsenal players but the interlude was filled with anti-Kroenke chants.

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool21155150203050
2Arsenal22128243212244
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest22135433221144
4Chelsea22117444271740
5Manchester CityMan City22115644291538
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle22115638261238
7Bournemouth22107536261037
8Aston Villa2210663334-136
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2281043530534
10Fulham228953430433
11Brentford2284104039128
12Crystal Palace226972528-327
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd2275102732-526
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham2275102743-1626
15Tottenham HotspurSpurs22731245351024
16Everton214891828-1020
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2244143251-1916
18Ipswich TownIpswich2237122043-2316
19Leicester CityLeicester2235142348-2514
20Southampton2213181550-356


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