Arsene Wenger crisis swells as Arsenal suffer fourth straight defeat at Brighton

Well that brings an end to our live coverage from The Amex.

Let me direct you to our Man City-Chelsea live blog for the rest of your afternoon entertainment. I have no doubt I'll see you there, but until next time goodbye.

A fourth successive defeat for Arsenal for the first time in six years inspired by a dreadful first half display on the south coast. Brighton struck twice in double-quick time and goals from Dunk and Murray did the business, and though Aubameyang pulled one back it was not enough to inspire a second half comeback.

Brighton go seven points clear of the bottom three and are into the top half. Arsenal are 13 points off the top four and 30 adrift of leaders Man City. Just the small matter of AC Milan on Thursday.

Full time: Brighton 2-1 Arsenal

Oh dear, oh dear.

It comes to nothing as Ozil can't beat the first man. Brighton break upfield and have a throw in, in Arsenal territory.

Free-kick for Arsenal wide on the left. Three minutes remaining.....

Chance! Aubameyang swivels and shoots but Ryan clutches the ball well. First time Arsenal have really tested him in this second half. Four minutes left.

Seven minutes added on.

Approaching stoppage time at The Amex. Brighton comfortable for the most part.

Nketiah produces Arsenal first effort on goal for some time with a weak header which Ryan gathers with ease.

Glenn Murray puts the ball in the net for Brighton but it is ruled out for offside. Izquierdo is the guilty, and he was about two yards beyond the last defender.

Hector Bellerin also coming on for Arsenal. Calum Chambers and Henrikh Mkhitaryan go off.

Eddie Nketiah being readied to make his Premier League debut. Desperate times for Arsenal, who have not recovered since the lengthy break in play to treat Schelotto.

No idea how Kolasinac escaped without at least a booking there. I wonder if The FA may have another look at that, under their 'exceptional circumstances' loophole, which allows them to act retrospectively even if the referee sees the incident.

Izquierdo almost wins it for Brighton, cutting inside Mustafi and shooting wide of Cech's goal.

It was a very nasty challenge from Kolasinac, who turned into Schelotto, but he escapes without any punishment. Bruno comes on in his place.

No way the Italian can continue here, with medics from St John's Ambulance in attendance. The full back is getting Oxygen, but does appear to be sitting up.

He's now walking to the touchline and that is a relief to see.

Schelotto needs a stretcher after the challenge, so his afternoon looks over.

Saed Kolasinac takes down Ezequiel Schelotto leaving the referee Stuart Attwell with a decision to make...

It has been nearly all Arsenal in this second half and they're really forcing the issue, as Brighton sit back. Dale Stephens is booked for a high foot on Jack Wilshere - he won the ball and didn't make contact with the Gunners man - but he is cautioned nonetheless.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates pulling one back for Arsenal.

Players out and we're back under way at The Amex. No changes.

Half-time: Brighton 2-1 Arsenal

It has gone from bad to worse for the Gunners and Arsene Wenger has a hell of a half-time team-talk ahead of him.

Brighton have been rampant with Lewis Dunk and Glenn Murray thrusting them into a 2-0 lead, but Aubameyang netted to halve the deficit. Arsenal have been simply woeful but somehow remain in the game.

OFF THE POST! Arsenal push for an equaliser and a Brighton head diverts the ball onto the upright. Great chance to go to 2-2.

GOAL! Brighton 2-1 Arsenal (Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang)

A lifeline for Arsenal? They get one back before the break as Iwobi tees up Xhaka who finds Aubameyang five yards out and he can't miss as Ryan fumbles the ball. Game on.

Murray heads Brighton into a two-goal lead.

An effort in anger at last from Arsenal as Henrikh Mkhitaryan shoots from the angle and Ryan turns it behind.

Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith believes this is the worst Gunners side under Wenger's stewardship, and it is hard to disagree with him.

The only positive to take from this half is they're only two down. Brighton should be home and dry quite frankly.

Brighton look like scoring every time they go forward, with Gross having the latest effort on goal which Cech gathers.

There is no restpite for the Gunners here.

And now Mesut Ozil commits a foul throw. This half has had it all.

GOAL! Brighton 2-0 Arsenal (Glenn Murray)

Goodness me. Arsenal in turmoil at The Amex. Koscielny gives the ball away at the back and a high cross into the box evades the Frenchman and Murray plants a header downwards and underneath Petr Cech, who could have done a whole lot better.

Lewis Dunk celebrates putting Brighton ahead.

Arsenal at sixes and sevens at the back. Knockaert wins the ball and after Gross plays him in it takes a low save from Cech to prevent Brighton going two-up. It has been all the home team in this opening 20 minutes.

Izquierdo is causing all sorts of problems for Arsenal down their right - the side filled by Calum Chambers - and his shot is deflected over for a corner. From the set-piece Dunk rises highest and heads over.

Pascal Gross hits one from 20 yards and Cech has to turn it behind. Arsenal have gone to pot since the opening goal and are on the rack.

GOAL! Brighton 1-0 Arsenal (Lewis Dunk)

Lewis Dunk finds the net in the right end to give Brighton the lead inside seven minutes. Shane Duffy beats Petr Cech in the air and keeps the threat alive from a corner, and Dunk reacts quickest and thunders into the unguarded net.

Lewis Dunk takes a chunk out of the ball at the near post and almost turns the ball into his own net from an Arsenal cross. The visitors on the front-foot from the outset.

Under way at The Amex. Arsenal in all black with pink trim, Brighton in their traditional blue and white stripes.

Players out and we're ready for kick-off on the south coast. Big afternoon for both sides.

The football world was rocked this morning with news that captain of Fiorentina and Italy international Davide Astori passed away overnight after a short illness.

Read all about the developing story here.

Kick-off fast approaching at The Amex, so that means it is prediction time.

I am going for Brighton 2-1 Arsenal.

Roll up, roll up.

Mesut Ozil must respond to his critics this afternoon.

Avoid defeat today and Brighton will go a fifth game in a row without a defeat for the first time in their history, which they have never done in the Premier League before. It would inch them closer to survival and act as another blow to an Arsenal team who are under immense pressure this afternoon.

There is little doubt that Arsenal's team today is with one eye on the mid-week trip to Italy, where they face AC Milan in the Europa League.

Bellerin, Ramsey and Welbeck all miss out today and will surely be enlisted in the San Siro. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is cup-tied of course, though Henrikh Mkhitaryan will be available to play.

Despite all the money being spent by Brighton to keep them in the Premier League, it has been a 34-year-old returnee who is top of the scoring charts.

Glenn Murray has 12 goals this season for the Seagulls in his second spell on the south coast, having rejoined the club 14 months ago on a permanent deal following a six-month loan.

He starts again today and is exactly the type of forward who Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi will hate to come up against today. Not an easy afternoon ahead for them.

Thierry Henry has been asked on Sky who he would build his Arsenal team around next season. Would be fair to say he hasn't got an answer. Not a single player name-checked by the Frenchman. Which says a lot.

Alex Iwobi on Sky Sports: "It hasn't been the greatest of weeks for us. We know what we need to do so we'e going to put in 100% effort. The defeat hurt us so we want to put everything right today. Every game is a must not lose, we want to win every game."

With the snow having cleared amid a positively balmy weekend, the Amex looks a picture before kick-off.

One side note from the Arsenal team. Eddie Nketiah is on the bench in the Premier League for just the fifth time this season. He has been an unused sub in each of the previous four occasions, but could he get his debut this afternoon?

With his spell as Arsenal manager having been dominated by the constant promotion of young players, it would be fitting if it ended with another leaving a mark on the first team.

Three changes for Arsenal from the mid-week defeat to Man City.

In comes Calum Chambers at right-back, Jack Wilshere in midfield and Alex Iwobi in attack. Hector Bellerin, Aaron Ramsey and Danny Welbeck drop out.

Now here is the Arsenal team.

Brighton are unchanged as expected from the win over Swansea. In fact it is the same 18 from that 4-1 win.

Brighton team has dropped.

Team news on the way.

The scene from inside the Amex tunnel ahead of kick-off.

Brighton can take a major step towards survival if they can win this afternoon. Result really went their way yesterday with Stoke and Southampton drawing, and Newcastle, Huddersfield and West Ham were all beaten meaning Albion are four points clear of the bottom three and could go into the top half this afternoon.

Chris Hughton has done quite a job on the south coast and it would certainly be a popular development if the club are able to beat the drop.

This afternoon has the potential to be rather uncomfortable for Arsene Wenger. His Arsenal tenure looks increasingly likely to come to an end at the climax of the campaign, with a host of names having been linked with the role.

No doubt that after three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups, Wenger will be remembered as one of the club's best ever managers, but if he can't end his tenure on a bright note it could go a long way to affecting his legacy in north London.

Atmosphere building ahead of kick-off at the Amex.

The team should be with us any minute now, but how do we expect both sides to line up?

Brighton could be unchanged from last weekend's win over Swansea. Jiri Skalak is fit again leaving Steve Sidwell - who had a back injury - as the only absentee.

Jack Wilshere is a doubt for Arsenal after missing the second loss to Man City wit a "slight" ankle problem. Nacho Monreal and Alexandre Lacazette are both out.

Arsene Wenger may be as long in tooth as any manager in world football, but he will have experienced few weeks as turbulent as the last seven days. Arsenal are destined to replace the Frenchman at the end of the season, with months running out for him to ensure his tenure in north London does not end on a sour note.

After three defeats in a row, a visit to a Brighton side only a win away from all-but assuring themselves another season in the Premier League is far from ideal for Wenger.

Chris Hughton's side are unbeaten in four and can go into the top half and seven points away from the drop zone if they prevail today. Albion have never gone five without a defeat in the Premier League so today could be a red letter day for the men from the south coast.

All the team news and build-up ahead of the 1:30pm kick-off on the way.