Brighton & Hove Albion face a difficult test as they face Premier League leaders, Arsenal at the AMEX Stadium.
Victory could lift Brighton as high as eighth if results elsewhere in this midweek round swing in their favour, whilst Arsenal could extend their title lead to as much as eight points with a win if Manchester City slip up elsewhere.
Team News
Yasin Ayari could return for Brighton following his recovery from a shoulder injury, but manager – Fabian Hurzeler otherwise has no fresh injury concerns to report following their 2-1 victory at home to Nottingham Forest.
Stefanos Tzimas (ACL) and Adam Webster (knee) remain sidelined.
Arsenal will have first-choice goalkeeper, David Raya available despite the Spaniard having suffered a knock in their 2-1 win at home to Chelsea.
Declan Rice (knock) and Martin Odegaard (knee) are doubts but Mikel Merino (foot) and Ben White (muscle) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Brighton host Arsenal at AMEX Stadium on on Wednesday 4 March at 7:30pm GMT, live on TNT Sports 2 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Brighton are winless in their last five league meetings against Arsenal (D2, L3).
- Arsenal are unbeaten in their last five league trips to Brighton (W3, D2).
- Arsenal are yet to claim three consecutive victories over Brighton across all competitions in a single season.
- Diego Gomez and Danny Welbeck have scored in both of Brighton’s last two matches (W2).
- Mikel Arteta’s Gunners have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last three away games (W1, D2).
Prediction
Sat mid-table now and firmly on course to avoid the drop after two clinical early goals proved enough to beat Forest, especially given that they needed less than two minutes to retake the lead after they conceded a careless goal through a poor moment of marking but ultimately showed control to see out the win.
Arsenal meanwhile continue to pose a huge problem for oppositional defences from set pieces as Chelsea discovered to their cost, which is something that they will look to maximise to their advantage in a game in which they will be favourites.
Brighton though have found their groove again in terms of attacking intensity and desire so this is going to be tougher than some might expect, but Arsenal should have the edge again.
Prediction: Brighton 1-2 Arsenal
Result: Brighton 0-1 Arsenal
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