Arsenal: 4 things we’d like to see against Brighton

Another international break awaits Arsenal albeit the tale heading into the coming one couldn’t be more different. Last time out it was richly needed to regroup and refocus, while this time it is most unwelcome.

Riding on the high of four wins in all competitions including the North London Derby, confidence is booming and like a team battering their opponent in the first half, they don’t want the referees whistle to come.

Partly because there will be some inevitable injuries over the international break, but mainly down to wanting to maintain momentum into the Autumn.

Brighton are the side who get to conclude this patch of Premier League football as they host the Gunners at the Amex Stadium and for the first time in a while this fixture takes place with the Seagulls above their opponents in the table. Even last season in the 1-0 away win Mikel Arteta’s side were above Graham Potter’s men by four points.

4 things we’d like to see from Arsenal against Brighton in the Premier League clash at the Amex Stadium on Saturday

The hosts’ only defeat so far this term came on home soil when Everton left the south coast with a 2-0 win in what has been an otherwise impressive start to 2021/22.

With all the efforts being made to turn this into some Neal Maupay-shaped rivalry, as well as it being the late kick-off on a Saturday and seeing the return of Ben White to his former stomping ground, it’s set up to be an exciting tie.

Does that add to the excitement? Somewhat, perhaps, but it’s very hard not to like Brighton for the football they play and the family feeling around the club, not to mention it’s a lovely city. Maupay puts a dampener on that.

As for the actual football the hope is that Arsenal can continue on this upward trajectory under Arteta and en route to doing so there are a few things we’d like to see.

1. Aubameyang Maintaining High Intensity

Aubameyang was hungry against Tottenham. Too many times last season, with mitigating factors coming into it later, he seemed too content to starve. Even without the chances coming to him there didn’t appear to be the thirst for goals like there has been this season.

Keep it up, is what we say.

One of the most interesting aspects of the derby win was hearing Spurs fans lament the difference in attitude between Aubameyang and the likes of Harry Kane and Heung-min Son. Bemoaning the engagement of the strikers on the pitch, it was as much the No. 14’s willingness as it was the pair’s crestfallen demeanour.

Maintaining such intensity across the whole season is achievable for someone who has barely missed a kick in his career, especially with the lack of European football to contend with.

While performances of that level are what is required, they will fly under the radar if the goals aren’t forthcoming. Yet consistently producing in the manner he has will result in the goals flowing. He’s clearly brimming with confidence and extending that into the international break would has to be the aim.

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2. Albert Sambi Lokonga & Thomas Partey Striking a Balance

Despite Hale End looking in fine shape and the strength of the back five increasing with every performance, it’s the likely involvement of Sambi Lokonga in midfield that is one of the most exciting aspects of Saturday’s meeting.

With Granit Xhaka out for the rest of the year the opportunity presented to Sambi is one that also can offer Arteta a look into what the future may hold.

The Belgian has been, dare we say, lucky, so far.

No Partey to start the season handed him a chance and now Xhaka’s extended absence is set to continue that spell in the team. While a prospect fans were looking forward to seeing in action, nobody could foresee the 21-year-old being as heavily involved as he has.

How he and Partey dovetail in the centre of the park, balance out their No. 6 and No. 8 duties and progress the ball centrally is going to make for fascinating viewing. They’re going to have plenty of fixtures to fine-tune their partnership and that starts on the south coast.

The word ‘dynamism’ immediately comes to mind.

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3. Attacking Balance With Five Clear Lanes of Attack

Fans can see how it is that Arteta wants his team to build and where the attacking threat comes from, and while the five lanes of attack he looks to adopt have been noticeable for much of his recent tenure, they had never been clearer than against Spurs.

Kieran Tierney was not the only avenue forward. Even with Xhaka in the team, the pass into the Scot’s feet to take his full-back on and whip a cross in was not the be-all and end-all for Arsenal.

Aubameyang kept centrally, Smith Rowe covered the interior and Saka was wider for longer spells. With Martin Odegaard adding the central figure in between the lines and Tierney stretching the pitch laterally on the overlap, if there was ever a fixture to see a clear painting of what Arteta wants it was that one.

It’s very much his starting lineup and his plan.

In having that structure – a word unfamiliar to the other lot in north London – there was far less predictability in the way the team moved and which angles were sought en route to goal. Boasting exceptional progressors of the ball in Partey and Xhaka the options opened up and Nuno Espirito Santo’s side couldn’t cope.

Brighton like to maintain a compact shape in every phase and breaking that down will only be achieved by making absolute use of the pitch.

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4. Don’t Fall Foul to Aggravation

Brighton aren’t a nasty team. If anything they’re a very likable team. Yet what they do have is some masters of the dark arts, if you like, and their forward line know how to get under peoples’ skin.

Yes, Neal Maupay is absolutely one of them.

If you were him who would you target? It’d probably be Gabriel if we’re taking a look at the backline as he can be somewhat reckless on occasion, but this will happen across the board. Brighton have already tried to stir this fixture up with their social media facade, and it’s on to the players to pay no notice.

Aside from Maupay though, they have other means of aggravation. One of either Alexis Mac Allister or Aaron Connolly are likely to play in Danny Welbeck’s stead and the latter in particular has earned a reputation for the theatrical. He loves a good Tom Daley near enough everywhere.

Their big commanding centre-backs are exactly what any manager would want to be and a bit of the measured rough and tumble will also be on show.

Whereas Arsenal teams of old have been sucked into these side-games and are guilty to have played the occasion not the game, this team is more level-headed. They are, however, still very young and keeping a cool head throughout will be key.