I know that we should not have to be looking for any advantage to help Arsenal win the next Premier League match, as it is at home to newly promoted Brighton and Hove Albion, but the Seagulls are not faced with a third game in just six days and the Gunners are, so I am happy to take anything the football gods can give us to give us more chance of victory on Sunday.
Chris Hughton’s side, despite being newly promoted and never having been in the Premier League before, have started well and sit just three points behind Arsenal in the league table. That and the fact that our team did not get back from the Europa League game in Belarus until the early hours of this morning and you can see why this might be a tough test.
One thing has gone in our favour in the build up to the game, though, because Brighton’s main striker and top scorer, Tomer Hemed, who was named the Man of the Match and scored the winner in their last match against Newcastle, has been handed a retrospective ban for an incident during that game.
Brighton will have to reshuffle and do without a key player and Arsenal must make the most of this. Get a fast and strong start and an early lead on Sunday and the visitors will have to press forward without their target man up front, so our defence should be able to cope and our attacking players should be able to fill their boots.
That’s the theory anyway, let’s hope it works out.
Sam P.