Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has admitted that it feels like there is "no hope" left for his side in the Premier League title race following their 3-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Gunners had fallen four points behind Manchester City prior to kickoff in North London, as the champions eased to a 3-0 success over Everton, who had thumped Brighton 5-1 on Bank Holiday Monday.
However, Roberto De Zerbi's men responded perfectly to last week's humbling, while Arsenal were a shadow of their former selves compared to their 2-0 win at Newcastle United.
Following a goalless and scrappy first half, Brighton drew first blood in the 51st minute through Julio Enciso, who headed home from a couple of yards out in unorthodox circumstances.
There was a hint of a foul from Evan Ferguson from Jakub Kiwior, who fell down after seemingly being caught on the ankle by the Irishman's studs, but the goal was allowed to stand.
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Arsenal struggled to muster up a response against De Zerbi's inspired charges, who put the result beyond any doubt late on through Deniz Undav's lob and Pervis Estupinan's added-time strike.
With a four-point lead over Arsenal and a game in hand, Manchester City need only beat Chelsea next weekend to retain their Premier League title, and Odegaard cut a dejected figure after his team's chances of glory were effectively wiped out at the Emirates.
"Yeah it feels like that [whether the title is over]. It is going to be very difficult now we have to be honest. It is tough to take. It is not a good feeling at the moment. The way we played, particularly in the second half, I don't know what happened to be honest. It feels like there is no hope now," Odegaard told Sky Sports.
"In the first half we did a lot of good things and had moments to create big chances but we gave them more and more momentum in the second half. We wanted to come here and continue like we have in the last two games, get a good result and keep pushing. It is a big disappointment.
"I don't think mentality was an issue. We were good going into the game but in the game was a different story and we have to accept it and learn from it."
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Elaborating to BBC Sport, Odegaard could not explain the Gunners' second-half capitulation but admitted that Brighton found it "too easy" to cut his side open following the break.
"Yeah it looks difficult now to be honest, we have to be realistic. I don't think City are going to do too many mistakes now. We just need to get back on the pitch and end the season in a good way. I think everyone deserves that, especially the fans.
"We did OK in the first half with the high press and could have been dangerous and scored some goals. The game changed a little bit in the second half, when they went direct it was a bit too easy for them to get through. I don't know why at the moment. I don't have any answers.
"We've done a lot of good things but at the moment it is just disappointing how we've ended. It is a good sign that we are disappointed. We just have to make sure we keep improving and getting better."
Injury was added to insult for Arsenal in North London, as Gabriel Martinelli was forced off in the first half following a challenge from Moises Caicedo and was seen in a protective boot at full time.
Arsenal's final away game of the season next weekend takes them to the City Ground for a date with Nottingham Forest before they host Wolverhampton Wanderers in gameweek 38.
Ben Knapton
