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Arsenal travel to Brighton on Saturday as they look to reduce the gap to Liverpool at the top of the Premier League to just three points. It could be a temporary tightening at the top as the leaders play Manchester United on Sunday, but a run of wins is the best chance Mikel Arteta’s side have of provoking a skid from their rivals.
Three Premier League appearances in a row is encouraging, especially given Bukayo Saka’s lengthy absence, and there is reason to believe the Amex Stadium may not be as challenging an away day as it often is. Fabian Hurzeler’s side are winless in their last seven Premier League matches but have drawn three in a row, striking late to earn a draw against Aston Villa last time out. Such a result would be a disaster for Arsenal.
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- Date: Saturday January 4 | Time: 12:30 PM ET
- Location: Amex Stadium – Falmer, United Kingdom
- TV: NBC | Live stream: fuboTV
- Chances: Brighton +320; Sign +270; Arsenal -120
Team news
Brighton: The return of both Adam Wester and Jack Hinshelwood would be welcome news for Hurzeler, although in reality it is more likely that both end up on the bench. There is also hope that Pervis Estupinan’s illness will not prevent him from being available, welcome news with Ferdi Kadioglu still sidelined with a toe problem. Further back, Evan Ferguson is doubtful and Danny Welbeck unavailable, but a front line that includes a returning Kaoru Mitoma and Joao Pedro, the latter winless since November, could well cause Arsenal problems. Saturday also comes too early for Diego Gomez, signed from MLS side Inter Miami.
On how Brighton could beat Arsenal, Hurzeler said: “Push all the limits in every phase of the match. Keep playing with courage and intensity. The results have not been good.” [recently] but the performance is there. We showed that we can beat any team in this competition. If we don’t play with courage in possession, we have no chance.”
Possible Brighton XI: Bridge; Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, Estupinan; Baleba, Ayari; Minteh, O’Riley, Mitoma; Pedro
Arsenal: Kai Havertz is expected to shake off the illness that sidelined him after the win over Brentford on New Year’s Day, but as soon as he comes into the picture, out is Jurrien Timber, suspended after picking up his fifth booking of the season on Wednesday. None of the players sidelined in recent weeks are particularly close to returning, with Raheem Sterling out next week and Ben White unlikely to return until the end of the month.
“We have to show the same level of consistency and a little bit more,” Arteta said of what it will take to win the title, “because over the last year we have been the best team in the league, breaking several records and counting always be.” I haven’t won a major trophy, so something is missing.
“It will be very thin, small details, you can pick up on certain games and situations, but at the end of the day we are so close and we just have to flip that coin the other way to make it happen. If we do what we have to do and what we have control over, the rest is out of our control.”
Possible Arsenal XI: Raya; Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Odegaard, Merino; Martinelli, Havertz, Jesus
Prediction
Arsenal may not have the attacking strength they would have with Saka, but they should be confident that their defense will get a big win on the road. CHOOSE: Brighton 1, Arsenal 2