Arsenal's hopes of finishing in the Premier League top four have taken a battering over the past week or so.

On Monday, Mikel Arteta's side were beaten 3-0 by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, a game which also saw Thomas Partey pick up a potentially season-ending thigh injury.

The onus was on the team to bounce back in their home fixture against Brighton on Saturday, but Arsenal slipped to yet another soul-crushing defeat.

Graham Potter's side won 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium thanks to goals from Leandro Trossard and the superb Enock Mwepu.

Arsenal barely threatened going forward throughout the match and the team's late goal from Martin Odegaard only went in because the ball took a significant deflection off of Danny Welbeck.

Odegaard's strike did give the Gunners hope of salvaging a draw in stoppage-time, but they were predictably unable to find a second.

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 09: Martin Oedegaard of Arsenal scores their team's first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion at Emirates Stadium on April 09, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

Arsenal didn't exactly help themselves either. In the 96th-minute of play, the north London outfit were awarded a corner and they had every player in the box - including goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.

But instead of hurling the ball into the area for the big men to attack, Odegaard and second half substitute Nicolas Pepe tried to be clever and it backfired quite spectacularly.

Odegaard passed the ball to the Ivorian winger on the edge of the box and, for some unknown reason, the £72 million flop decided to give it back, despite the fact his teammate was in an offside position.

Check out the epic stoppage-time fail from Arsenal here...

Video: Arsenal's spectacularly bad corner vs Brighton

Fan reaction

How bad is that?! A snippet of action that perfectly sums up Arsenal since the conclusion of the March international break.

The Gunners have surrendered fourth spot in the Premier League to bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who thrashed Aston Villa 4-0 in Saturday's late kick-off.

Arsenal now face an almost impossible task to qualify for next season's Champions League, as they still have to play the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Spurs in their remaining fixtures.

Arsenal BOTTLE IT! Arsenal 1-2 Brighton | Southampton 0-6 Chelsea

And with Partey and Kieran Tierney now both set to be absent for those crucial games, you have to feel it's game over for Arteta's young side.

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