Arsenal centre-back Jakub Kiwior has insisted he was fouled in the build up to Brighton's first goal - despite being heavily criticised after Gunners hopes of winning the Premier League were all but extinguished on Sunday. 

After a goalless first-half, Roberto De Zerbi's lively Seaagulls dismantled Mikel Arteta's side after the interval to win 3-0 - with Julio Enciso opening the scoring, pouncing on Arsenal's baclkine disarray. 

Goal. Arsenal 0-1 Brighton. Enciso nods home from close range in acres of space after Kiwior inexplicably dropped to the floor. Not impressed by that. He’s already on sticky ground after ducking out of the way of Sporting Lisbon’s goal in Portugal pic.twitter.com/FRy3O9gjTC

— Layth (@laythy29) May 14, 2023

Driving down the left flank, Pervis Estupinan played a bouncing cross into a melee of players in the box. One of which was Kiwior, who while marking Enciso, appeared to be stood on by Evan Ferguson, with his boot coming off in the process.

The Polish centre-back then fell to the ground after his coming together with the Brighton striker - but, unforgivably for some, left his man unmarked inside the six-yard box, allowing the Paraguayan to head home and give the away side the lead.

I’m not interested in centre-backs being fouled. I’m interested in centre-backs putting their body on the line even if it hurts. If you have a low pain threshold don’t be a centre half

— Layth (@laythy29) May 14, 2023

Absolutely agree. It's almost irrelevant if you're hurt as a centre-back. Your job is to defend not go down like a centre forward if someone comes near you. Really not impressed by Kiwior. But then I grew up watching Tony Adams and expect that commitment from every centre-back https://t.co/H7N1NvI98M

— Layth (@laythy29) May 14, 2023

"I felt contact and lost my boot and didn't even see the goal,' the centre-back told Viaplay after the game," claimed Kiwior after the match. 

"I hoped VAR would intervene and chalk off the goal, but unfortunately, the ref saw it differently.

"After we conceded the second our heads dropped and we couldn't come back."

During the game, former Manchester United defender Gary Neville told Sky Sports that the defender should have got back to his feet despite losing one of his boots to defend the oncoming threat from Brighton. 

He told Sky Sports: "As a centre half, surely you just have to stand up and let the attack finish?"

Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira were also Sky pundits at the game with the former Arsenal midfielder admitting that Kiwior wasn't fouled by Ferguson. 

"I think the question that you need to ask is, is it intentional," Vieira said. "And I don't think that foul is intentional. I think it's just like, the contact, yes. But to be harsh, that goal has to be allowed.

"You expect your centre back to be strong enough to stay there and defend first," he added.