Brighton look to continue their title challenge as they welcome Arsenal to the AMEX Stadium.
Depending on results earlier in the day, Brighton could have an opportunity to climb to the Premier League summit until Liverpool face Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.
Arsenal meanwhile can go seventh with a win because West Ham, Aston Villa and Brentford are not in action until Sunday afternoon.
Team News
Yves Bissouma could return for Brighton after missing their last two matches with a knee injury.
Enock Mwepu (groin) is a doubt but Steven Alzate (ankle) joins Adam Webster and Danny Welbeck (both hamstring) on the injury list.
Arsenal have only one absentee to report as Granit Xhaka is ruled out with a knee injury until early 2022.
Stat Attack
- Brighton are unbeaten in five of their last seven meetings against Arsenal (W3, D2, L2).
- Arsenal have won just one of four away trips to Brighton in the Premier League (W1, D1, L2), with both defeats being 2-1 results in the Seagulls’ favour.
- Both teams have won and scored one penalty apiece in eight Premier League meetings.
- No English defender has produced more passes this season than Brighton’s Lewis Dunk, who has produced 406 passes in six league appearances.
- Nicholas Pepe is the only Arsenal player to have hit the woodwork this season, having done so on two separate occasions.
Prediction
Having missed a huge chance to go top of the table in a scrappy Monday Night Football clash at Crystal Palace last week, Brighton will certainly be up for this clash in front of their home fans because they will never have a better opportunity to impose themselves as top four challengers.
Arsenal though were excellent in their North London derby win against Tottenham last weekend with excellent attacking play from the back complete with intelligent movement on the ball, whilst also defending as a team which was certainly absent this time last month.
This game though will certainly pose a difficult test for Arsenal because Brighton have made themselves difficult to play against this season, so patience will be vital and I can see another scrappy contest here but Mikel Arteta’s Gunners look like they have finally clicked and their quality could well be crucial.
Prediction: Brighton 1-2 Arsenal