Arsenal welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to the Emirates Stadium for a decisive Premier League clash.
Depending on Chelsea’s result against Watford, Arsenal could head into this game with a chance to go fourth but must win anyway to keep their top four hopes alive.
Brighton meanwhile are now safe after Cardiff lost to Crystal Palace on Saturday so can relax and prepare for next season.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesArsenal could have Laurent Koscielny available after the defender missed their midweek win over Valencia due to fatigue.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles (suspension) is suspended for this match after being sent off last weekend at Leicester, although he will be available for the Gunners’ final day trip to Burnley next weekend.
Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding (both knee), Aaron Ramsey (thigh) and Danny Welbeck (ankle) are all still ruled out, with Ramsey having played his last game for Arsenal as he prepares to join Juventus next season.
Beram Kayal is set to be available for Brighton after recovering from a tight hamstring.
Davy Propper is nearing full fitness after a hamstring injury but won’t be risked here ahead of next weekend’s home clash with Manchester City.
Jason Steele (wrist) and Jose Izquierdo (knee) are both ruled out until next season.
Form
Arsenal enter this with just one win from their last five league games, although four of those games were away from home.
Brighton are winless in their last seven despite drawing two of their last three matches, and have taken just four points from their last five away league trips.
Stat Attack
- Arsenal have lost just one of three Premier League meetings with Brighton (W1, D1, L1).
- At home, Arsenal are yet to lose to the Seagulls (W6, D1), winning three of those games by a 2-0 result.
- Shane Duffy has made 158 headed clearances, more than any other player this season.
- 15.9% of Arsenal’s 69 league goals this season have come from outside the box.
- Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang has had 27 shots off target this season for Arsenal compared to Brighton’s Anthony Knockaert who has only failed to get eight shots on target.
Prediction
With safety now assured, Brighton need to focus on sorting out their defensive defiencies but Arsenal will be a tough team to beat as always at the Emirates.
I am therefore going for a comfortable home win, especially given the Gunners’ comfortable lead in their Europa League semi-final so can afford to go for it here.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
Jake predicts: Arsenal 2-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
Result: Arsenal 1-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
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