Arsenal vs Brighton: Still plenty to play for this weekend

We will be glad to see the back of it! Only eight months, eleven days and 6,072 hours on from their comfortable opening day victory at Craven Cottage (who’s counting?), Arsenal will finally bring this bruising season to a close on Sunday when they welcome Graham Potter’s enigmatic Brighton to north London.

It may not look like the most pulsating encounter on paper, and a combination of poor form and unfavourable results in midweek mean the Gunners’ hopes of snatching a hardly-deserved Europa League spot have already evaporated. However, despite all the misery we have endured, there are still a number of reasons why the team should aspire to end the campaign on a high.

Perhaps the biggest incentive for going for the win this weekend is the chance to qualify for the inaugural Europa Conference League. Admittedly, it does not have the glitz and glamour of other forms of European competition, and many fans will no doubt view it as an unwanted distraction from next year’s primary focus of reclaiming a place in the top four.

However, with Liverpool, Chelsea and both Manchester clubs currently gathering momentum and us continuing to struggle in midtable, this new format would provide Arsenal with a viable alternative for getting back into the Europa League.

A place in the Europa Conference League and the return of fans mean Arsenal still have plenty to play for against Brighton on Sunday

Furthermore, given our squad size and the promise of investment this summer, we will have plenty of options next season and will be more than capable of competing on two fronts without sabotaging any bid for the Champions League.

Securing a win on Sunday could also facilitate the return of St. Totteringham’s Day. Five long years have elapsed since we last enjoyed bragging rights in north London, but Arsenal would finally regain local supremacy with three points against The Seagulls, provided Sp*rs fail to beat Leicester at the King Power Stadium.

Granted, finishing above our Seven Sisters neighbours is hardly a major achievement, especially considering how each club is sat 7th and 9th in the Premier League table respectively, but it may just give us the small lift we need after a difficult year.

In addition to matters on the pitch, the last and probably greatest motivation for putting in a big performance is in celebration of the 10,000 fans that will be in attendance. Mikel Arteta has repeatedly stressed his ambition to build a rapport with fans since taking the job 17 months ago,  and so this will be the perfect opportunity for his side to give us something to cheer about after the disappointing European exit earlier in the month.

Unfortunately, we won’t be able to sign off with a trophy on this occasion, and beating a team that have been dicing with relegation for most of the season will not detract from the massive rebuilding job required this summer. Nevertheless, a place in Europe and pride in the shirt are both at stake this Sunday, so let’s hope the returning fans are treated to a fifth league win in a row.