Arsenal's away-day troubles continued at the AMEX Stadium as Jurgen Locadia's first goal since his Premier League debut earned Brighton and Hove Albion a 1-1 draw.
The Gunners have failed to win four of their last five league matches on the road and they were guilty of throwing away two points on Wednesday as Locadia profited from Stephan Lichtsteiner's mistake to end a 17-game goalless run.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – the Premier League's top goalscorer – had put the Gunners ahead, but holding onto all three points proved a step too far for Unai Emery's stuttering side.
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Arsenal has now won two of its last five league outings and could find itself two points off the top four if Chelsea beats Watford later on Boxing Day.
Aubameyang almost opened the scoring in the fourth minute with a cute lob from Matteo Guendouzi's pass, but Mat Ryan was able to tip his effort over the bar.
There was nothing the Australia international could do three minutes later as Alexandre Lacazette shifted the ball to Aubameyang, who made no mistake in finding the top corner.
Eventually Brighton settled but Arsenal should have doubled its lead on the half hour, Aubameyang denied by a superb save from Ryan after collecting a Lucas Torreira pass on his chest.
Ryan's stop proved crucial as the host levelled soon after, Davy Propper launching a counter-attack following an Arsenal corner that Jurgen Locadia pounced on to score – the forward helped by Lichtsteiner's inability to clear.
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Propper could – and perhaps should – have given Brighton the lead in the early stages of the second half, the midfielder heading wide from Solly March's pinpoint cross.
Opportunities in the second half proved few and far between, with the March and Locadia wasting the chance to be Brighton's matchwinner in the final 15 minutes.
What does it mean? Gunners lose ground on top-four
With Manchester City dropping points again this was a chance for Arsenal to strengthen its position in the top-four battle, but it is clinging on after only coming away with a point. Brighton, meanwhile, is now 10 clear of the bottom three.
Lucky 13 for Auba
Aubameyang has been in fine form this season and has already eclipsed the 10 goals he scored last season, Wednesday's strike his 13th of the campaign. The Gabon international is a man in form with 11 goals in his last 12 league outings.
Lichtsteiner's defensive lapse proves costly
Lichtsteiner had been recalled for the trip to the south coast but he was far from the calming influence Emery would have hoped for. The Swiss defender misjudged his jump to gift Brighton its equaliser and he was lucky not to concede a penalty soon after.
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What's next
Arsenal faces another tough trip on Saturday when it visits league leader Liverpool, while Brighton entertains an Everton side that put five past Burnley on Boxing Day.
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