Brighton & Hove Albion look to begin their run-in on a high as they welcome Arsenal to the Amex Stadium.
A win will see Brighton move further away from the relegation zone, whilst Arsenal could climb to eighth with a win depending on Tottenham’s result against Manchester United.
Team News
Embed from Getty ImagesBrighton boss, Graham Potter has a near full squad available for selection as Jose Izquierdo remains their only absentee with a long-term knee injury.
Arsenal will be without David Luiz as he serves an one match ban after being sent off in Wednesday’s three goal defeat at Manchester City.
Pablo Mari is ruled out for rest of season after suffering an ankle injury but Granit Xhaka could be available later in season, although the Swiss midfielder is ruled out of this clash.
Sokratis Papastathopoulos (knock) is unlikely to feature whilst Calum Chambers remain a long-term absentee with a knee injury suffered during the festive period.
Stat Attack
- Brighton are unbeaten in their last four league meetings against Arsenal, despite conceding once on each occasion (W2, D2).
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored three goals in four Arsenal starts against Brighton.
- Brighton scored first in both of their two Premier League wins over Arsenal.
- Aubameyang is the only Arsenal player to have scored more than one headed goal this season, doing so on three separate occasions.
- Glenn Murray has made the most substitute appearances for Brighton this season, coming on from the bench on 13 occasions.
Prediction
Arsenal simply have to raise their game here because Wednesday’s performance was atrocious from a defensive angle, with too much sloppy defending and gifted too much space for Man City to cause issues.
Brighton however just need to continue their solid performance and impose themselves in the same manner as they usually do, which will certainly cause issues for Arsenal if they can get that first goal.
I therefore am not expecting an entertaining battle here but if Brighton play like they did at the Emirates back in December and Arsenal’s woes continue, then this should be a home win.
Prediction: Brighton 1–0 Arsenal
Result: Brighton 2-1 Arsenal