Brighton & Hove Albion are set to welcome a resurgent Arsenal to the Amex, with both sides looking for a win to boost their respective objectives.
Fabian Hurzeler will want to see a good response from his side if they are serious about theiur European ambitions, which currently are faltering following a drab run of results. Brighton & Hove Albion are sitting in 10th at the moment ahead of the visit of Arsenal amid their run of seven games without a win.
That includes three consecutive draws heading into Saturday, and during this period, all of their rivals have taken advantage and moved up the standings. At the start of the season, Brighton had a clear objective of getting back into European competition, and given how well they were performing, talk of a Europa League or even a Champions League finish was rife.
However, Hurzeler will want to see a big jump from their current position in the standings, and that is possible if his team are able to stitch together a run of wins. Brighton ended the year with an entertaining 2-2 draw against Aston Villa, as Tariq Lamptey was the unlikely source of a goal, as the defender found a way to equalise and help the Seagulls collect a point.
Meanwhile, Arsenal kept their title hopes alive with a stellar performance away at Brentford to open their account for 2025. That victory was their third in a row in the Premier League and a 12th unbeaten game across all competitions.
Arsenal did concede early as Bryan Mbeumo was able to beat David Raya at the near post, and then the keeper almost let in a second with an error, which he rectified with incredible reactions. The Gunners equalised within 55 seconds of that error, and after that, they were the dominant side. Mikel Arteta’s men put the game to bed early in the second half as goals from Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli proved enough.
Arsenal are currently six points behind Liverpool, albeit having played a game more. Arteta will know they have a big chance to apply some pressure on Arne Slot’s side by closing the gap to three points at the top. They will know the difficulties in getting a big result away at Brighton, although that is something they have managed in each of the last two seasons.
Team News & Tactics
Brighton & Hove Albion
The list of absentees at Brighton & Hove Albion is not out of the ordinary following their most recent game, as at least six players are missing from action, including former Gunners man Danny Welbeck.
Mats Wieffer is also out of contention for the time being, while Hurzeler will be hoping to have Pervis Estupinan fit following an illness that saw him miss the Villa clash. Lamptey should continue at right-back in the prolonged absence of Ferdi Kadioglu and Jack Hinshelwood.
Carlos Baleba and Yasin Ayari are the expected midfield pairing for the Seagulls. At the same time, Simon Adingra has given himself another chance to shine following that goal against Villa as he will continue on the left side of the attack.
Giorginio Rutter will play in the attacking midfield role behind Joan Pedro, while the impressive Brajan Gruda will continue on the right wing for Brighton & Hove Albion against Arsenal on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Lamptey, Van Hecke, Dunk, Estupinan; Baleba, Ayari; Gruda, Rutter, Adingra; Pedro
Arsenal
The Gunners are missing all of their recognised right-backs ahead of this trip to Brighton, as Jurrien Timber’s yellow card against Brentford will leave him suspended. Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are out for the time being, with the former likely to return at the end of January, while the latter has been doing light training.
Beyond that, there are no fresh absentees, as Arsenal continue to miss Bukayo Saka through a long-term hamstring injury. Kai Havertz is expected to make himself available following his absence against Brentford through illness, as Arteta will look to tweak his lineup following Timber’s absence.
It remains to be seen whether Arteta brings Havertz straight into the lineup, as Mikel Merino and Gabriel Jesus have given no reasons to be dropped. Thomas Partey could shift to the right-back slot as he has done on many occasions this season, which could see Declan Rice return to the starting lineup and at the base of the midfield.
Teenage sensation Ethan Nwaneri was impressive on his first-ever start in the Premier League for Arsenal and will likely continue to deputise for Saka on that right wing. Martinelli and Jesus are expected to keep their places in the front three. Meanwhile, Martin Odegaard will captain the side and will hope to improve upon his numbers in the final third.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Raya; Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Rice, Merino; Nwaneri, Jesus, Martinelli
Key Stats
- Brighton & Hove Albion are winless in their last seven games across all competitions.
- Brighton & Hove Albion have drawn their last three matches in the Premier League
- Arsenal has won their last two games away at Brighton in the Premier League.
- Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 12 games across all competitions.
- Arsenal have won their last three matches in the Premier League.
Player to Watch
Ethan Nwaneri
It was a pleasant surprise to see a teenager playing with a poise, as it barely felt that Nwaneri was making his first full Premier League start for Arsenal. For the time being, it does feel like Mikel Arteta may have found an internal solution to Bukayo Saka’s absence, and it remains to be seen if the 17-year-old shines from here on.
An excellent display on the right wing will compel Arteta to select Nwaneri for back-to-back games in the top flight, and a top showing in another away ground will build confidence in the youngster to take his game to the next level. All eyes will be on Nwaneri to perform better than the last game and give Arsenal a readymade Saka replacement of sorts.
Prediction
Brighton & Hove Albion 1-3 Arsenal
The Seagulls are not in the best of runs and will be desperate for three points, although this is probably the last team they want to play to end that barren run. However, they have had defensive lapses that cannot be ignored when facing a team like Arsenal that could see the North Londoners win at the Amex for a third time in a row in the league.
Arsenal have shown no problems in the absence of Bukayo Saka and have continued to score plenty of goals if one might consider the tally at Palace after the winger’s injury. Some of their underperformers are coming into focus and have been putting in the shift, as Mikel Arteta’s side are expected to take three points and continue their winning run.
