The Pascal Gross form has transformed Brighton & Hove Albion into a goalscoring machine, with the Seagulls already scoring 16 goals this season from their opening five matches. In addition to a fantastic attacking record, their defence has only conceded five goals, and a lot of it can be credited to their workhorse captain.
The 35-year-old German midfielder, who returned to the South Coast in January after leaving for Borussia Dortmund in August 2024, has taken his game to new heights recently, and the Pascal Gross form has only benefited Brighton in moving up the Premier League table, as the Seagulls find themselves in third place heading into the September international break.
Brighton’s vice-captain currently holds the best average rating of any player after the opening five Premier League matches, with an average of 8. He is also tied for the most number of assists with three, and is tied with Joao Pedro for the joint-most goal contributions with six. Pascal Gross form has come from Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler utilising him in a central attacking midfield role, which the German has benefited from massively.
Pascal Gross Form: German Ageing Like A Fine Wine In New Central Attacking Midfield Role
The only outfield Brighton player to play all five Premier League games in their entirety, the Pascal Gross form has seen him become a huge figure in the Seagulls’ sensational opening to the 2026/27 season. Man of the Match in his last three appearances for Brighton, the German midfielder has shown that even at the age of 35, his level of consistency has not dropped and his performances have elevated the Seagulls to new heights.
At the weekend against Arsenal, his goal and assist helped Fabian Hurzeler’s side defeat the reigning Premier League champions, and in the process ended their unbeaten start to the league campaign. A few days prior, his goal equalised the Carabao Cup Third Round tie against Manchester United, a game the Seagulls ended up winning and dumping the Red Devils out of the competition.
Used as either a defensive midfielder, a central midfielder or a central attacking midfielder, the Pascal Gross form has seen him put in the numbers in terms of distance covered and chances created and seen him utilise his fantastic passing range, as the 35-year-old proves that age is just a number.
In the Seagulls’ fixture against the Gunners, he covered the most distance (12.6 km) in the match, 700 metres more than Kai Havertz, who was second best in that category. In addition to that, even though he was deployed in the central attacking midfield role against Arsenal, Gross did not neglect his defensive duties and was on hand to make interceptions, tackles and clearances, as Brighton kept a clean sheet.
At 35, Gross has a wise head on his shoulders, which did not see him dispossessed in the fixture, keep a cool head in avoiding a booking, and play those key passes, which Chema Andres benefited from in the second half, as the Spaniard made it 3-0 for Brighton and put the game to bed for the Seagulls.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Spain’s Greatest Ever Team: The Debate Between The Side From 2008-12 Against The 2024-26 Team
Pascal Gross Form: Is The German On For His Career Best Season?
With seven goal contributions from eight games in all competitions, Gross has had a blistering start to the 2026/27 season, and at 35, he looks to be fitter than ever and has returned to the South Coast with a point to prove that age is just a number, and Hurzeler is certainly getting the best out of the German midfielder.
His best season up to this point came during the 2014/15 season, when Gross managed seven goals and 16 assists for Ingolstadt in the 2. Bundesliga. However, if we are looking at his best campaign in the top flight, that came with the Seagulls in the 2022/23 season, as he managed 10 goals and 10 assists in 44 matches across all competitions.
With the trajectory he is on currently, with four goals and three assists in his last five competitive matches, he is well on his way to match those statistics from a couple of seasons ago, and he could even be on his way to break his personal record of 23 goal contributions across a single season.
With the Seagulls going well in the Premier League, into the next round of the Carabao Cup, and also competing in the UEFA Conference League, the Pascal Gross form has the chance to continue in the same vein, as Brighton’s vice-captain looks to keep up the consistency and help the Seagulls continue their tremendous performances.
Extra Time Note
The Pascal Gross form was important in Brighton’s win over Arsenal over the weekend, but also important in the bigger picture as the Seagulls look to attack three different competitions at once. At the age of 35, he has played every single minute of every single game and continues to prove his immense work rate.
As the Premier League heads into the international break, the Pascal Gross form has been one of the few noteworthy aspects of Brighton’s fantastic early season form. Fabian Hurzeler has been able to build a strong youthful squad, with the likes of Lewis Dunk and Pascal Gross being the experienced leaders guiding the Seagulls project in the right direction on the pitch. The Pascal Gross form has seen the midfielder return back to his best, and his second spell on the South Coast looks to be a promising one.
More Premier League News
Manchester City vs Sunderland: A 100% Win Record Going Into The International Break
Set-Piece Coaches: The Premier League’s Quietest Transfer Market
