Arsenal’s bid to qualify for the Champions League was dealt with another setback on Saturday, as they were defeated 2-1 at home by Brighton, making it two defeats in a row for Mikel Arteta’s struggling side.

Leandro Trossard and Enock Mwepu scored either side of halfway for a previously out-of-form Brighton at Emirates Stadium, five days after losing 3-0 at Crystal Palace. Martin Odegaard added a late consolation.

Arsenal’s late-season battle with Tottenham, in particular, for a top-four finish behind Manchester City, Liverpool, and most likely Chelsea, is being hampered by the absences of first-choice left back Kierney and crucial holding midfielder Thomas Partey.

Arsenal began the game locked for fourth position with Tottenham Hotspur, who plays at Aston Villa later Saturday.

With Tierney out, Granit Xhaka, a center midfielder, stepped in at left back and was caught out of position for Brighton’s first goal. In the 29th minute, Xhaka was left isolated upfield after a long ball was put in behind him, and Mwepu raced through before crossing for Trossard to score with a rising finish from 15 yards (meters).

After a four-minute VAR review, Gabriel Martinelli’s equalizing goal from a corner in first-half stoppage time was ruled out for offside, and the home fans were even more unhappy in the 66th minute when Moisés Caicedo dragged the ball back to the outside of the box for Mwepu to sweep in a low finish.

Odegaard equalized in the 89th minute with a long-range strike that took a tiny deflection and went into the top corner, but Arsenal didn’t have enough time to find an equalizer.

Arsenal has already lost three of its previous four games, and must face Chelsea and Manchester United this month with an injury-plagued squad.

Brighton is wallowing in mid-table as the season draws to a close, having won none of their last seven league games.