With both clubs safely through to the knockout stages of their respective European competitions, Arsenal welcome Brighton to the Emirates Stadium with both teams looking to close in on their Premier League (PL) goals.
The Gunners were knocked off the summit following their 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa last weekend. After being held to a draw by PSV in midweek, Mikel Arteta’s men could endure a three-match winless run for the first time since April. However, Arsenal can take solace in the fact that they have won six straight matches at the Emirates, thanks in part to the support of their home crowd.
Arsenal’s recent form at home is impressive, but they cannot afford to underestimate Brighton. The last time the Gunners were beaten on their own turf was by Brighton in May, with a scoreline of 3-0. In fact, Arsenal has lost more head-to-head matches in the PL against Brighton than they have won, with a record of W4, D3, L5. This makes the upcoming fixture a tough challenge for Arteta’s charges.
Brighton, on the other hand, have had success at the Emirates in recent years. They have won each of their last three visits, scoring eight goals in the process. Their resounding 3-0 victory in May all but ended Arsenal’s title hopes. Additionally, Brighton has not kept a clean sheet in the Premier League since that match, with both teams scoring in all 20 of their subsequent fixtures.
With their continental distractions put aside for now, Brighton’s head coach, Roberto De Zerbi, will be eager for his side to regain their domestic momentum. Currently, Brighton sits seven points adrift of the top four, having won just one of their last five PL away matches (D1, L3). During this sequence, they have conceded 14 goals, highlighting their defensive vulnerability.
When it comes to key players to watch, Arsenal’s striker Gabriel Jesus stands out. He has a positive win-loss record against Brighton (W8, L3) and has been in fine form this season, scoring four of his five goals before half-time. On the other side, Brighton’s Pascal Groß has faced Arsenal the most times without scoring. However, he has contributed with assists in both of last season’s head-to-head matches and has been directly involved in five goals in his last four PL games (G1, A4).
In terms of statistics, the last four head-to-head matches between Arsenal and Brighton have produced a total of 16 goals, averaging four goals per game. This suggests that we can expect an exciting and high-scoring encounter.