Brighton manager Graham Potter singled out Aaron Mooy for special praise as the playmaker combined with Socceroos teammate Mat Ryan to give the Seagulls a 2-1 win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday.
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The home defeat added to the Gunners' Premier League woes following the sacking of coach Unai Emery, with interim manager Freddie Ljungberg earning just one point from a possible six after a draw with Norwich City.
Mooy provided the telling cross for Neil Maupay to net the winner in the 80th minute, after Adam Webster (36th) opened the scoring and Alexandre Lacazette (50th) equalised.
It was just Brighton's second away win of the season - and a first ever at Arsenal - that lifted them above Aston Villa, West Ham and Bournemouth into 13th.
"It's a wonderful feeling after three tough games," Potter told Amazon Prime Video Sport. "It is always nice to bounce back with a win at a place like this.
"Lots of our play was good. Nice finish and great ball from Aaron Mooy, who I thought was fantastic all game ...
"It's confidence, it's belief and we have played good teams recently. Our performances mean we can pick up points in this league. Credit to our players, they did what an away team have to do. That's what I'm really proud of."
Brighton's first-half pressure paid off in the 36th minute when centre back Adam Webster pounced on the ball as it came loose after a corner, poking home past Bernd Leno to give the visitors the lead.
Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette equalised five minutes into the second half with a high looping header from a Mesut Ozil corner which bounced in off the far post.
The home side briefly thought they had taken the lead when David Luiz shanked the ball home from a free kick, only for the Brazilian to be found clearly offside by VAR.
Instead, Brighton's Maupay headed Mooy's cross in the 80th minute for the lead.
It was then up to keeper Ryan to ensure maximum points and Brighton's No.1 rose to the challenge to produce a fine late save to deny Gabriel Martinelli.
At Bramall Lane, Newcastle ended Sheffield United's seven-match Premier League unbeaten run with a 2-0 victory helped by another disputed VAR decision.
Newcastle took the lead through Allan Saint-Maximin's header in the 15th minute, before Jonjo Shelvey netted a bizarre second midway through the second half.
United's defenders switched off completely after the linesman flagged for offside when Andy Carroll flicked the ball on toward Shelvey.
However, the referee waved play on and the midfielder slotted the ball into the net when he was clear through on goal, with goalkeeper Dean Henderson making little effort to stop it.
A video review showed Carroll was onside, and the goal stood.
It was the hosts' first defeat since losing at home to Liverpool in September.
The win took Newcastle level with Sheffield on 19 points in mid-table.
Australian Associated Press
