Brighton v Arsenal Preview, Team News, Predicted Line-Up and Score Prediction

Arsenal are set for another tricky game down on the South Coast when we visit Brighton’s Amex Stadium, and Unai Emery’s biggest problem is covering for our myriad defensive injuries, especially with Liverpool coming up on Saturday as well. But I guess all the EPL sides are starting to feel fatigue and suffering suspensions as the fixture list takes it toll.

Arsenal had a great away record this season but even that has suffered lately, as we can see from our most recent away form…

We have only lost one of our last six away, but Brighton have not been playing too bad on home soil either and have a right to be a little confident against a depleted Arsenal side. Here is their recent home form….

As for the team news, Brighton are missing one of their most influential players today in Lewis Dunk, but the Seagull’s manager Chris Hughton is getting Shane Duffy back after also returning from suspension. As Hughton said in the official Brighton website: “With one negative, you’d like to think there’s also a positive — Shane is back from suspension for the game, so what we’ve lost on one hand, we’ve gained with him coming back.

“Lewis has been a mainstay for us, not only this season but over previous seasons. He’ll certainly be a miss against Arsenal, but what we do have is a competitive squad.

“Shane was out for a few games and we had to readjust. We missed Dale Stephens for a few games as well, and it’s just about using the squad in the best way that we can.”

As for Arsenal we are missing loads of players and although we have already covered the injury list earlier today, here is a quick summary….

Mkhitaryan (foot), Monreal (thigh), Bellerin (calf), Kolasinac (thigh), Mustafi (hamstring) Holding (ACL), Welbeck (ankle), Mavropanos (groin)

Another big worry we have with the trip to Anfield is that Torreira and Guendouzi are both just one yellow away from a suspension and will have to be very careful if they play today. So how do we expect Emery to line up his side? I think the boss thinks every game is important and will only be worrying about gaining three points today rather than worry about Liverpool, so I think he will play a strong XI, but still stick to five at the back.

Here is my line-up prediction…

Leno
Lichtsteiner..Koscielny..Xhaka..Sokratis..Kolasinac
Torreira..Guendouzi
Ozil..Ramsey
Aubameyang

In my eyes that should be strong enough to secure the points, but I’m not expecting an easy game. I’m going for 2-1 to Arsenal.

What do you think?

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11 Comments

    1. Lichsteiner, if he had regular game time, you/we know what we’d get from him almost week in week out. This is a new team, a team in an adjustment phase, and he is not getting regular game time nor is he coming into a settled back line. I say he was still a smart buy, if something had happened to Bellerin more long term, you would’ve seen a different story. He is not the type of player to come off the bench now and then and boss it, most starting team players are not like that. Auba’s can, but more of them are not like that than ones who are. Also we don’t know how much help Lichsteiner has been around the training ground, I like him, I like his personality. I know that he passes on information and maybe it’s not just thanks to the coaches for Bellerin’s upturn in performance this year. The teams upturn in attitude, again Litch would have allot to pass on. It’s only early doors yet, but I reckon Litch was a wise choice.

  1. “Leno
    Lichtsteiner..Koscielny..Xhaka..Sokratis..Kolasinac
    Torreira..Guendouzi
    Ozil..Ramsey
    Aubameyang”

    Again with Xhaka at the back innit?? Let’s even say the defense is okay. You’ll start Torreira and Guendouzi together both whom you know are both on 4 yellow cards already.. Of CU’s you’ll start them because most of you want Xhaka at CB. So you disrupt the team, and can I ask what will happen when Both LT11 and MG29 gets yellow cards today considering how they love to tackle and it’s an away game?? What happens next? You play Xhaka at the defense, Elneny and Iwobi at midfield against Liverpool?? I ain’t no coach but it doesn’t take a genius to know that we can’t play both LT11 and MG29 today knowing both are on yellow.. All we can risk is one and the best risk is MG29 starting the game.. Do you guys really believe we can’t beat mid table teams now with 4 man defense that you constantly go for the 5 man defense now??… Woah, under Wenger we play the 4 man defense, attack and score goals but concede a lot… This seat under Emery we play the 5 man defense and each time, we conceded goals and we do that easily… I don’t really care if we play 1-0 with a 5 man defense… But I’d prefer us playing 6-2 with a 4 man defense like Spurs did!! They scored 6 goals and nobody questioned why they conceded 2 goals, so I don’t really know how you guys prefer having the team in situations where our strikers will struggle. Aubameyang flourished in the last game because the defense was balanced and he had creative players with him and you’re back to sacrificing that again

    1. We might finally get to see AMN in the middle.

      I like Guendouzi as he looks a real talent but I am irritated that he is being picked ahead of AMN and Guendouzi flops around like a fish out of water at times, when is Emery going to sort that kid out? The longer it takes then the more of a rep for being a diver he will get.

    1. My prayer too Sue.. I heard someone say that both Brighton and Liverpool got 3 points each, albeit very true. But your guess is as good as mine the humiliation Liverpool can deal us without authority in the midfield. I hope Torreira is rested by the Boss.

  2. …………………leno………………….
    …….leics…. Kos…… Sok……….
    Amn……….. Torre…… Kolas….
    ……..Ramsey………… Owobi…..
    ………..lacaz……… Auba……..

  3. M.guendozi can be replaced by ramsey or niles in the liverpool game if he gets a yellow. What worries me is If torriera gets a yellow, the only like for like replacement we’ve got is Elneny and maybe Maitland niles. The last thing I wanna see is xhaka on that DM role. This really is gonna be a tough away game, Brighton are a very strong side on their home turf

  4. My prediction:

    ………………….Leno
    ……Koscielny . Xhaka . Sokratis
    Niles . Ramsey . Guendouzi . Kolasinac
    …………Ozil …………….Iwobi
    ……………..Aubameyang

  5. Leno
    Jenkinson – Sok – Kos – AMN
    Xaka – Torreira
    Ramsey – Ozil – Iwobi
    Auba

    Lacazette – as power sub if needed

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