Arsenal vs Brighton: 3 tactics to beat Graham Potter’s side

2. Arsenal Must Match Brighton’s Energy Across the Board

The home side will be up for this one. For Arsenal, matching the Seagulls’ energy and commitment will be paramount in getting a positive result. Potter has lifted the fitness levels of this side hugely since taking charge, with the manner they close down the opposition and press intelligently all vastly improved across his tenure.

Against Tottenham, especially in the first half, Arsenal was irresistible. Hunting and chasing down opponents with a vigor that is rarely seen from the north London club. In the second half, however, Arsenal managed the game well with the way they simply matched Spurs’ intensity and Arteta will know that the Seagulls won’t be as tepid as Tottenham were in that opening half.

Should Brighton get on top early and get a sense Arsenal are not at the races, then they will be spurred on by their home fans who will smell blood. This is a team who like to gain control early into proceedings.

Away games are notoriously difficult for teams in the Premier League but when it comes to Arsenal, the ‘soft’ notion has always been carried with them. The club have put that to rest in recent seasons and demonstrated that this term against Burnley, even if this will be a different type of physical test: energy and pressing as opposed to aerial and ground duels.

Arsenal is going to have to bring the same energy from the North London Derby if it is to get anything from this contest with a Brighton team that is full of confidence. Throughout the meetings between the two the Seagulls have never shown fear in these fixtures.