Brighton’s quest for a first win since November continues with the visit of Arsenal on Saturday afternoon.
The Seagulls ended 2024 with another draw, the club’s third in a row, after Tariq Lamptey’s 81st-minute equalizer secured a share of the spoils against Aston Villa on Monday. Fabian Hurzeler has remained upbeat during the seven-game wait for victory and told fans to “always trust the process” this week.
Arsenal’s early seasons below Mikel Arteta they defined themselves by that exact phrase, which Mesut Ozil was ironically responsible for before that process led to his own exile. Five years into Arteta’s tenure, the Gunners have been rewarded for their patience and find themselves embroiled in the title race for a third consecutive season.
A 12-game unbeaten run has kept Arsenal within striking distance of runaway league leaders Liverpool, who are not in action until Sunday. This delay gives the north London team a chance to close, if only briefly empty to first place only three points.
Head-to-head results Brighton vs Arsenal (last five games)
Current form (all competitions)
|
Brighton |
arsenal |
|---|---|
|
Aston Villa 2-2 Brighton – 30/12/24 |
Brentford 1-3 Arsenal – 1/25/1 |
|
Brighton 0-0 Brentford – 27/12/24 |
Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich – 27/12/24 |
|
West Ham 1-1 Brighton – 21/12/24 |
Crystal Palace 1-5 Arsenal – 21/12/24 |
|
Brighton 1-3 Crystal Palace – 15/12/24 |
Arsenal 3-2 Crystal Palace – 18/12/24 |
|
Leicester 2-2 Brighton – 24/12/08 |
Arsenal 0-0 Everton – 14/12/24 |
|
country |
TV channel/live broadcast |
|---|---|
|
united kingdom |
Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Ultra HD, NOW TV, SKY GO Extra, SKY GO |
|
united states |
fuboTV, Peacock, Telemundo Live Sports, NBC, Telemundo |
|
canada |
fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network Canada |
Brighton they almost have an entire starting eleven of players out injured. Saturday’s game is “too soon” for new Inter Miami club recruit Diego Gomez, who will follow from the wing with full-back Ferdi Kadioglu and veteran midfielder James Milner.
Jack Hinshelwood is “getting closer” to a return from his knee injury, according to Hurzeler, and center Adam Webster is available again. However, doubts hang over Pervis Estupinan who is recovering from an illness.
ancient arsenal Striker Danny Welbeck will be assessed “day-to-day”, while fellow striker Evan Ferguson (ankle) and midfielder Mats Wieffer (thigh) are unlikely to feature.
Brighton’s expected line-up against Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Consume; Lamptey, Van Hecke, Dunk, Igor; Baleba, O’Riley; Minteh, Rutter, Adingra; Peter Peter
Arsenal were besieged for “error” of the whole team ahead of their New Years trip to Brentford. Kai Havertz sat out the 3-1 win, sent to quarantine to avoid further contamination. Arteta revealed on Friday: “Those who are sick, I think they will be fine.”
Whether that means Havertz will go straight back into the starting eleven is another matter entirely. Given Gabriel Jesus’ strong form, there seems no need to rush the German.
Arsenal will not welcome back either of their injured full-backs Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu. Fellow defender Jurrien Timber will also sit out the trip to the south coast after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season. on wednesday.
Raheem Sterling is closing in on full fitness but Bukayo Saka is still very much at the start of his long-term recovery. It remains to be seen whether Arteta will be able to resist the urge to start 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri for the second time in four days.
Arsenal predicted line-up against Brighton (4-3-3): Stripe; Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Rice, Merino; Martinelli, Jesus, Trossard.
Brighton have not beaten Arsenal at the AMEX Stadium since lockdown, in a game that butterfly fans claim won Argentina the World Cup as Emiliano MartÃnez, barely seen , took center stage.
The Seagulls have not won three points in front of their own fans against anyone since they played at victory over Manchester City before the international break in November. While Hurzeler insists the performances haven’t been as poor as his points in recent weeks, the early effervescence of the early months of the season has definitely fallen flat.
Arsenal, especially as they continue to face their own Bukayo Saka-less existence- they are in no way the favorites to win this Saturday. However, the Gunners are in a strong position to extend Brighton’s wait for victory.
