ISAAN KHAN: Arsenal’s ruthless massacre of Brighton will feel like a punch in the gut to their title rivals… the Gunners will take a while to stop if their current away form continues

Brighton’s merciless killing on the opposition’s pitch felt like Arsenal’s swift nudge in the gut of their two title rivals for a reason more relevant than the scoreline itself.

In the Premier League, Arsenal have scored the most goals (75), conceded the fewest (24) and kept the most clean sheets (14).

Yet it is the north London club’s away form that has temporarily knocked them out of Championship view.

Three of their four league defeats this season – Newcastle, Aston Villa and Fulham – have all come at the opposition’s home ground.

Now, the Gunners are unbeaten in their last six away league matches – and it is this recent ability to pick up wins on the road that could well settle this tightest title race.

Arsenal moved to the top of the table ahead of Liverpool’s clash with Manchester United

Arsenal’s current excellent form on the road could tip the balance in the Gunners’ favor.

Arsenal will face Tottenham and Manchester United on enemy territory in their last four matches. With Manchester City and Liverpool battling it out at the top, wins in both games could be non-negotiable if the Gunners are to win a first title since 2004.

Asked if Saturday’s convincing 3-0 win boosts the team’s confidence ahead of a tough final away fixtures, Mikel Arteta replied: “Yes, it does. It does. a really, really tough place to come and win, but also the way and the formula that we did it in. Hopefully yes, we can continue to do what we’re doing.

“We know we are going to have to play (well) because we have won 10 and drawn one of the last 11 and we are not at the top of the championship.

“It’s like, ‘Come on!’ but that’s the level and that’s why we have to improve so quickly as a team to try to be there.”

It wasn’t just a simple away victory either. The scars from the 3-0 defeat to the Seagulls at the Emirates in May, amid Arsenal’s eight-point implosion to surrender last season’s title to Man City, will have always been there. one way or another – although Arteta joked on Saturday, “I already forgot (that)!”

This begs the question: what happened away from home?

“It’s about performance,” he said. “You have to earn the right to win in this league and teams ask you a lot of questions.

“There are a lot of things you need to control to win a Premier League away game and the team seems to control those moments much better and are comfortable in different stages of matches when teams demand something else .This is a big step as a team.

Arsenal’s trips to Manchester United and Tottenham could decide whether the title heads to the Emirates, or to Liverpool or Manchester City.

Trips to Man United and north London rivals Spurs won’t be easy. Such atmospheres, especially in this last meeting, would test the most determined players.

But if the Gunners manage to continue in the same vein of recent weeks in enemy territory, they will need a few stops.