Brighton vs Arsenal preview: How to watch, lineups, injury news & prediction

Four matches unbeaten in all competitions and with confidence high, now is a good time to be a Brighton fan. Yes, that’s right, the opposition on Saturday are also in a high spirits. This won’t be easy for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s side are also in healthy run of form with four unbeaten in all competitions, although that stretch is comprised of four victories with just a solitary goal conceded. Heading into this fixture the outlook is distinctly rosier than but a few weeks ago.

It’s sixth against tenth with a four-point difference separating the sides ahead of what is an unwelcome international break, arguably for both teams.

The previous run of World Cup qualifiers came at an ideal time for Arsenal who desperately needed to regroup and refocus, with new arrivals and new partnerships getting valuable time on the training ground to absorb the manager’s ideas and bond as a team. This time around Arteta will just want to play unobstructed.

Brighton vs Arsenal Premier League preview: Mikel Arteta’s side looking for fourth straight league win against Graham Potter’s men on Saturday

If all goes well with results falling Arsenal’s way ahead of the October break the Gunners could be into the lofty heights of seventh in the Premier League table. That, however, is irrelevant at this stage.

As ever, it comes back to the old adage of one game at a time: Arsenal could win and still be tenth, just as they could lose and still be around tenth. This is one game where building momentum and putting points on the board is all that matters. No looking at the table just yet.

This is a side not out of the woods. Focus remains on putting in a strong performance, improving overall, and replicating upon the elements that saw Tottenham blown away in the North London Derby.

Winning both meetings last season was a fresh change for Arsenal having only won one of the six top-flight clashes since the Seagulls gained promotion in 2017. However, Graham Potter has put his stamp on the ‘xG kings’ and got them finally converting their chances, so this will be far from easy.

Win here and Arteta can start proving his side might just be turning a corner. He’s made progress in the past few weeks, it’s all about consistency now.

How to Watch on TV

When Is Kick Off? Saturday 2 October
What Time Is Kick Off? 17:30 (GMT)
Where Is it Played? AMEX Stadium
TV Channel/Live Stream? Sky Sports (UK) fuboTV (USA)
Referee? Jonathan Moss

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Arsenal Team News vs Brighton – Who Replaces Granit Xhaka in the Team?

After everyone collected themselves following the shock news that Arteta had a fully fit squad to choose from against Spurs for the first time since the turn of the century (probably), naturally that aligning of the stars was only momentary.

Granit Xhaka was the surprise candidate to fall foul to injury, and it wasn’t just any old setback either.

Confirmed to be out for three months with knee ligament damage, the Swiss will now miss the remainder of the calendar year in a huge blow to Arteta and his team. Whether he starts matches or not, losing a player of that experience in the centre of the park is concerning especially during the hectic winter schedule.

The interesting and exciting aspect of his injury, the silver lining, is that Arteta can revert to some of the personnel and approaches he implemented prior to his return: Albert Sambi Lokonga in the double pivot or 4-1-4-1 with Thomas Partey as the sole holding midfielder?

Potter isn’t as spoiled for choice and could be without five players for Saturday unless there are some key recoveries by then.

Most notable is Yves Bissouma. Left out of the squad for the Crystal Palace draw, Potter claimed he was ‘hopeful’ the Malian would be fit to feature on the weekend, but nothing is certain.

Elsewhere, Steven Alzate and Danny Welbeck are set to miss out after collecting injuries against the Eagles, with defender Adam Webster and summer signing Enock Mwepu also big doubts.

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Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs Brighton – 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3?

Arsenal: Ramsdale; Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey, Sambi, Saka, Odegaard, Smith Rowe; Aubameyang

Brighton: Sanchez; Veltman, Duffy, Dunk; March, Lallana, Bissouma, Cucurella; Trossard, Maupay, Mac Allister

Arsenal vs Brighton Score Prediction

Brighton are not the same team without Bissouma. His absence at Selhurst Park was keenly felt, especially since Mwepu was also not in the team and he gives them another edge in midfield.

It does look like the Malian will be back though, because that’s how it always is. But, as important as he is to Potter, Arsenal have a certain Partey in their ranks. For the first time in a while, Arsenal supporters might be somewhat confident about this one.

The high of the North London Derby remains and despite this arguably being a tougher fixture on paper, the way with which Arsenal clicked in that opening 45 minutes bodes well.

xG also catches up: no side have outperformed their expected points as much as the Seagulls have.

They are beatable but they are also effective. Having struggled to convert the gluttony of chances created last season Brighton are now finding the back of the net in more clinical fashion, despite not adding to their striker ranks in the summer.

Yes, Neap Maupay is fit.

But this is an Arsenal side beaming. Victory here can make it five on the spin and set up the international break in superb fashion following he horrendous spell prior to the first set of World Cup qualifiers. Add to that how Brighton are yet to keep a clean sheet in the eight Premier League meetings and, well, Arsenal might grab a goal or two.

Score Prediction: Brighton 0-2 Arsenal