Arsenal vs Brighton: Match Preview, Team News, Lineups and Prediction
Arsenal host Brighton and Hove Albion at the Emirates Stadium this week on matchday 17 of the Premier League.
Surprisingly, the Seagulls handed Arsenal a 3-0 defeat in May. Since then, the Gunners have not lost a single game at the Emirates Stadium.
Match Preview
Mikel Arteta’s side lost 1-0 to Aston Villa last week after John McGinn scored the only goal of the game, in the 7th minute. That loss against Emery’s side meant that Liverpool remain at the top of the Premier League table.
In the Champions League, the Gunners had already secured their place in the last 16 and played a 1-1 draw with PSV Eindhoven on matchday 6.
Now, dropping points against De Zerbi’s side will mean losing points in three games without a victory for the first time this season.
The Gunners are yet to suffer a defeat at Emirates in all competitions and will look to stretch their victorious run to seven matches this weekend.
Brighton are coming in this game after a 1-1 draw against Burnley last week. Nevertheless, the Seagulls topped their Europa League group after defeating 1-0 at home.
However, their three-game homestand now ends with a first away fixture since a 3-2 defeat to Chelsea a fortnight ago.
De Zerbi’s injury-hit Brighton sit in eighth place in the Premier League table, just outside the European spots. Brighton have scored and conceded as well in their last 20 top-flight games.
The last time they visited the Emirates, the Seagulls earned a 3-0 win over the Gunners and will hope to do the same this weekend.
Arsenal teams news
Takehiro Tomiyasu, Thomas Partey, Fabio Vieira and Jurrien Timber are out for the fixture against Brighton and Hove Albion.
Homegrown midfielder Emile Smith Rowe has returned from his knee injury and will be available for selection.
The likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli were rested in the midweek clash and will be announced in the starting XI this weekend.
Brighton team news
Joao Pedro, who scored the only goal against Marseille, was substituted after suffering an injury and will be a doubt ahead of the trip to North London.
Ex-Arsenal forward Danny Welbeck will miss the clash against his former side, whereas Ansu Fati, Estupinan, Tariq Lamptey, Juio Enciso and Solly March will miss the clash as well.
Joel Veltman, Adam Lallana and Evan Ferguson, are expected to be in the starting XI.
Arsenal vs Brighton: Predicted line-ups
Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
Brighton (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, Milner; Baleba, Gross; Adingra, Lallana, Mitoma; Ferguson
Prediction
Arsenal 3-0 Brighton
Brighton did hand Arsenal a 3-0 loss last time at the Emirates, but since then their defensive stability has been poor. However, the Seagulls can still hurt the Gunners.
Arsenal on the other hand, have been very solid defensively this season, plus Arteta has a almost full-strength team at his bay. So, a win for Arsenal is expected on Sunday.
