Ben White accused of 'pathetic cheating' against former club Brighton... as clip of Arsenal defender falling to the ground following slight push from Pervis Estupinan goes viral

Arsenal defender Ben White accused of 'pathetic cheating' against former club Brighton on Saturday.

A clip of Arsenal defender falling to the ground following a slight push from Pervis Estupinan went viral.

White hit the deck after clashing off the ball with Estupinan in the second-half at the Amex Stadium.

Social media footage showed the 26-year-old nudge Estupinian as he jogged past.

And when the Ecuador left-back retaliated with a push, White collapsed to the turf and holding his throat.

Fans criticised White on social media.

One fan said: 'Ben White falls to the ground feigning some kind of assault. We all see it. Why can't VAR do something useful and send players off for that kind of pathetic cheating?'

A second quipped: 'I seriously hope Ben White is okay & makes a speedy recovery.'

And a third fan added: 'We can't have these crybabies like Ben White and Zinchenko being Premier League winners it simply can't be allowed to happen.' 

Arsenal regained top spot in the Premier League after goals from Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard secured a thumping 3-0 success which dented Brighton's push for Europe.

Mikel Arteta's men arrived at the Amex Stadium having dropped to third place in the table following Manchester City's 4-2 win at Crystal Palace in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off.

Fit-again top scorer Saka set the Gunners on course to return to the summit by converting a debatable first-half penalty before substitute Trossard sealed victory over his former club following a tap-in from Havertz.

The north London visitors were worthy winners on the south coast and sit a point ahead of both Liverpool, who play their game in hand at Manchester United on Sunday, and City as attention switches to a Champions League quarter-final tie with Bayern Munich