📰 Table Of Contents
Recommended bets
[RECOMMENDED_BETS]
Match preview
Arsenal have picked up where the left off before the World Cup break: winning matches.
On Monday night, despite being a goal down at the break, the Gunners fought back to beat West Ham 3-1.
Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli bagging quick-fire goals, before Eddie Nketiah spun and fired home the clincher.
That’s a tenth successive home league victory for Arsenal, and the first time they’ve ever begun a season with seven consecutive home wins.
This all means Mikel Arteta’s team remain clear at the top of the table, but that position will be sorely tested in Sussex by the Sea.
The Gunners have won just two of their last ten meetings with Brighton, knocked out the Carabao Cup by the Seagulls just last month.
Like their visitors, Brighton enjoyed a 3-1 victory on Boxing Day, swatting aside Southampton at St Mary’s.
Adam Lallana headed home, an own goal doubled their advantage, before Solly March’s beautiful curler secured the points.
Either side of the break, Roberto De Zerbi’s side have won three of their last four, so currently sit in seventh place.
Will Brighton continue to be Arsenal’s bogey team, or will the Gunners claim another statement victory on New Years’ Eve?
Brighton & Hove Albion team news
On Monday, Moisés Caicedo was shown his fifth yellow card of the season, meaning he will serve a one-match suspension.
This leaves them short of midfield options; Enock Mwepu was tragically forced to retire last month, Jakub Moder is injured and World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister isn’t back yet.
So Billy Gilmour is set to start a Premier League game for the first time since May, when he was at Norwich.
At centre-back, Adam Webster remains a doubt, so Levi Colwill could continue as Lewis Dunk’s partner.
In attack, Danny Welbeck is set to miss a reunion with his former employers due to injury, meaning Leandro Trossard, who’s already scored seven times this season, will lead the line.
Kaoru Mitoma, who netted in a League Cup victory at the Emirates just 52 days ago, will also be a threat.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sánchez; Veltman, Dunk, Colwill, Estupiñán; Gilmour, Groß, March, Lallana, Mitoma; Trossard.
Arsenal team news
Mikel Arteta meantime is likely to name an unchanged line-up from Boxing Day’s victory over West Ham.
William Saliba, somewhat surprisingly, started at centre-back, just four days after returning to training; he’s a booking away from a ban.
Oleksandr Zinchenko saw 17 minutes of action, but Takehiro Tomiyasu wasn’t even on the bench due to injury.
Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson are hoping to be available again soon, while Gabriel Jesus sadly won’t be.
On Monday, Bukayo Saka became the first Arsenal player since Thierry Henry 18 years ago to score on three successive Boxing Days.
Eddie Nketiah meantime has now netted 11 times in his last 11 starts at the Emirates, although, of his 11 Premier League goals, just four have come on the road.
Predicted XI (4-1-4-1): Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey; Xhaka, Ødegaard, Saka, Martinelli; Nketiah.
Premier League Survivor: £25k+ Prize Pool!
PREMIER LEAGUE SURVIVOR TIP OF THE WEEK
Premier League Big5: £1,000+ Prize Pool!
PREMIER LEAGUE BIG5 TIP OF THE WEEK
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Arsenal: Match statistics
[STATISTICS]
