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Confirmed Arsenal team v Brighton – Mosquera starts, Dowman on the bench

Arsenal travel to Brighton this evening in the Premier League, aiming to secure another crucial victory as they chase the title, and this is the starting eleven just announced.

Arsenal team v Brighton

Arsenal currently hold a five-point lead over Manchester City, but Guardiola’s side has played one game fewer, meaning a win in their outstanding fixture could reduce the gap to just two points. With the season entering its decisive stages, the Gunners cannot afford to drop points if they are to maintain their advantage and stay on course for the title.

Brighton’s Challenge

The upcoming match represents one of Arsenal’s toughest remaining tests. Brighton will approach the game with a sense of vengeance after losing the reverse fixture earlier in the season. While they were unable to beat Arsenal in both league meetings last term, they remain capable of securing a draw, which would represent a significant obstacle for Mikel Arteta’s side.

Fabian Hürzeler’s team are known for their energy, pressing ability and tactical discipline, qualities that have enabled them to challenge top teams consistently. Arsenal must be prepared to cope with Brighton’s intensity while exploiting any spaces left behind when the Seagulls commit players forward.

Arsenal’s Form And Strength

Despite the challenge, Arsenal arrive with confidence. The squad has been in excellent form over the past few weeks, with most players performing at a consistently high level. Their quality and cohesion give them the tools to overcome Brighton and secure the three points. Maintaining focus, executing their game plan effectively and responding to Brighton’s pressure will be key if Arsenal are to take another step towards the Premier League title.

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149 Comments

  1. No Saliba on the bench. Still no start for Norgaard, he is so underused. Come on Arsenal, 3 points is needed.

    2. Yeah really thought Norgaard is gonna start against former club.! Guess he starts on the weekend then. Or might come in earlier in second half and score a screamer. 😁

  2. COYG
    Please win and keep this minimum 5 point gap .
    Love my boys.
    Great to see young Max on bench

  3. Let injuries not be our demise for this remaining 9 fixtures.
    Saliba currently out. I hope it’s nothing serious.

    Merino
    White
    Odegaard
    Saliba

    4 important players currently out injured. Hopefully our squad depth can see us through and give us wins.

      1. Our bench probably cost more than The whole of the Brighton team and valued higher.

    3. Surely *Merino is a big loss? in many minds he is.

      by now – no one should need convincing about it. I consider him a valid “start option” he earned it by great finishes and assists against the worlds very best opposition. Maybe gone for now but not forgotten

  4. Defence ok, Midfield lacking but obvious, attack a little bit worrying. Not a lot of guille in attack. I think I would have found a place for Haverz and Trossard. We keep persevering with Eze and Norgard regardless. A win a must. Go out and prove you can!!!!!

      1. Madueke does nothing on the left

        But does plenty on the right which results in close to nothing

        Leave Madueke out when the match is a must win

  5. Saliba getting on the scorecard has earned him a night at home with his feet up 🙂 . Youngster Mosquera is ready in waiting – he has a chance at winning fans over (again).

    Regardless, at this stage (of our campaign) this squad knows what’s at stake – they either assert authority (on BRI) or they open there selves to criticism, from here, there-n-everywhere.

      1. Reggie,

        He’s 21yrs – he’s so young his ollies might not have dropped (properly) yet. I hope he rises to the task.

          1. Fortunately he’ll be monitored by Big Gabby & Raya… this is what’s most encouraging.

  6. What’s up with all this injuries?
    Am worried for this game than the past 2. Hope the boys dig in and earn the three points

  8. Eze’s fear of holding the ball in the middle will really show today

    Trossard has been the one trying to cover for him by always shifting into the middle & that affected his own game

    Martinelli can’t do that
    The void in the middle will be very obvious today

  10. Time for Saka to justify his huge salary and perform when the going gets tough. I may be in a minority but Saka has not impressed me this season and its time he made a positive contribution.A tough challenge tonight as Brighton are particularly strong in midfield but without Welbeck they may lack a cutting edge and i expect us to have enough to win the 3 points.

    1. Yes he has not impressed based on his own standards

      He’s a victim of his own self and his own standards

      Yet he’s still behind almost everything we do

      He might not have the assist nor the goal, but go check, 80% of our open play goals are still from gameplays that involved Saka and the right wing

    2. Grandad,

      Add another to you’re minority. I to think that were not getting enough from our poster boy. 🤷‍♂️👍

  11. We have 3 more matches that really scare me:

    Brighton, today
    Everton next
    Newcastle

    These guys know how to get something from us – and we just can’t afford that now

  12. I hope Gyokeres and Eze wear their shooting boots tonight, because Eze would likely not be able to create any easy scoring chance for Gyokeres since their playing styles don’t complement each other

    1. I think the last time you said that, they got 2 each in the same game. 🤞they can’t play with each other again😂

      1. Gyokeres’ goals weren’t created by Eze. It was because Spuds were in chaos and Tudor had his first game in England

        I told you guys many times that Eze is better at shooting for Arsenal than he is at unlocking sturdy defenses with through passes

        1. They were still onnthe pitch together and they were the only ones that scored and I am only saying that because, after you saying that they both scored. 🤞after you saying it again, they can do the same again.

  13. Well, City are almost certain to pick up all three points tonight. We’re not so I’m hoping we can turn up with a better performance than the Chelsea game. That was a nervy, sloppy performance even against ten men Chelsea. Time will tell. COYG!!!

  18. That was a bs yellow card by kavanaugh, started his work early. Remember the rice 2nd yellow.

  20. You’d think Brighton were the team trying to win the league and not us by what we are seeing

    3. The era has come where Arsenal need to play slow football. Gone are the days of quick one-touch football. We don’t attack with speed or press. Our passing is laboured and miss-guided. It’s a crap show to watch. We’re not winning the 50/50 battles and we’re more reliant on set pieces more than ever to score. What is going on? At the moment I would rate Eze at 2/10 and Gyokeres the same. Not even in the game. In fact, only Saka, Gabriel and Rice would be the highest at 6/10. Not good enough!

  26. It’s only Brighton ffs we are making them look like Real Madrid. We can’t keep the ball and we look so do poor AGAIN

    1. think some are missing the point of Arteta’s ethos
      how he will look at is how many saves has Raya had to make ?
      that means it’s defensively a controlled performance
      that’s how we play in 2026
      not saying I agree with it but defence is just as much as part of the sport as attack

    2. How will we keep the ball without Odegaard but Passenger-Eze & Gyokeres that can’t do any other thing asides shoot the ball

      It doesn’t matter the amount of space, when the ball is given to Gyokeres that’s the end of our possession

  28. These commentators are real Arsenal haters.

    Moaning about:
    – Set piece time
    – Fouls
    – Lack of shots
    – Lack of set pieces
    – Scoring too much from set pieces
    – Losing league when 8 points ahead a few seasons back

    Blah blah blah

    Might as well just mute commentary.

    1. They actually have a point tbh. Our football is in reverse. We rely on set pieces. It’s frustrating to watch sometimes because we score a goal and then sit back nervously playing risk and slowing games down. It’s not great and I wouldn’t be surprised if we concede in the second half because credit to Brighton for at least trying to entertain..

    2. Am happy they are saying all that, whoever laughs last laughs the loudest.
      Nothing they are saying will be written on that trophy.

  29. That’s an ugly first half. I don’t see this ending 1-0 so we need to see a response next 45. No opportunities besides for the goal in 9th min…

  30. That was absolutely terrible, what on earth are we doing? We were just giving away the ball left right and centre. Mosquera needs to be replaced, really soft yellow card, when Mitoma did two the same and got nothing. Absolutely have to do better, get Max Dowman on and scare the bejesus out of them.

    1. Brighton seem to start targeting Mosquera for his second yellow card. If I were Arteta, I’d replace him with Calafiori after the 55th minute

      If Zubimendi is unfit to play in the second half, he must be replaced too since he didn’t really play well in the first half of the game

  31. The Gunners were less nervous than they were when playing against Chelsea. Probably because they knew that Arteta’s tactics are more suited to away games, despite the heavy pressure from Brighton

    We were lucky that Brighton were lame in the final third and didn’t have Minteh to cut inside from their right wing

    Gyokeres should be sold in the summer while his value is still high, because he is rarely willing to engage in aerial duels despite his height. If he just wants to do ground duels, he needs to improve his technical skills

  32. Need Havertz on for Gyokeres, Mosquera off and put Skelly at left back and Hencapie alongside Gilberto. Trossard on later in the game for Martinelli.

    1. Agree, Gyok cannot win any duels and keeps getting us pushed back. Kai very much needed

  33. Terrible game to watch.We get the lead and then just defend.With all the players we have it is such a ridiculous approach,but is just Arteras way.

  34. I think Rice needs help in midfield and Gyokores and Martinelli need to do more. We need to press the Brighton defence more. They are not that great.

  36. Arsenal will have to improve their game massively in the second half otherwise it would be a nightmare evening for us.
    There is just no life in our play; it can’t continue that way.

  37. With Eze & Gyokeres we play 11 vs 9

    All teams will outplay us (except woeful Spurs)

    We need Odegaard asap

    1. Classic michael owen comment, if brighton score it will be 1-1. Yes that is how football works.

  40. The less we attack the more we are attacked. I just don’t understand the mentally!?

  41. how’s he not taken Mosquera off
    in a title race that can be decided by the smallest of details ….this could be a huge mistake

    1. Truth is Dan, it’s not just Masquera that needs to come off. At least half the team might as well be on holiday.

  42. We could concede here if we don’t watch it – what are we doing? For gods sake Arteta make some subs.

    1. When was the last time we were actually outplayed? Brighton are playing better than us but there hasnt been another example recently.

      1. Really

        Chelsea, Brentford, Wolves, Man Utd, Liverpool

        U didn’t watch those matches

  47. Kai and Leo on. C’mon lets get a spark going, need to start taking some semblance on control of this

  51. Gyokeres off finally. Offered nothing this game. I would be surprised if don’t concede though. Putting ourselves under more pressure with this mediocre football and gittery performance. How are we top of the table?

        1. No i think it was bad until the last 10 but you said how are we top which is a different kettle.

  53. Zero stability without a solid DM on the field, they’ve carved through our midfield time and time again. Makes so many of our games a nervous watch

  56. Why on earth are we playing like this?To be honest we don’t deserve to win this game and if ends up as a draw or worse we only have are ourselves to blame

  59. Rice has been working very hard. If he gets injured, we’d likely get screwed because Merino won’t be available till next season

    I wish we can recall Nwaneri

  60. Havertz is way more willing to fight for aerial balls than Gyokeres, unfortunately he’s so injury prone and his wage is exorbitant

      1. Not related to this moment, but it would be difficult to keep him next season because of his injuries and very high salary

    1. Because we don’t have Odegaard or Nwaneri. Eze is more suitable for shooting in the penalty box than playmaking from our right side

      1. Totally.

        Nwaneri is here or there, but both Merino and Odegaard being out is a serious issue for us currently.

  64. Unless the midfield is sorted out, won’t make a difference who we play up front. Zubamendi, dud buy if the year? It’s all about percentages now, although it won’t be pretty.

  65. Holy moly Arsenal just aged me 10 years. Really grinded that out but WELL rewarded! Job done all that mattered

    1. And Man City drew at Forest, so drop 2 points and our cushion is getting better again 🙂

      They have a game in hand but even if they win that we still will have a 4 point cushion!

  66. Is there a cardiologist in the house 😮‍💨 great night terrible performance 😁

  67. Good win against a tough opponent. Thr icing on the cake was City 115 only drawing, so we’re 7 points clear.

      1. Honestly as funny as that would be, I want to beat them again next year, so hope they stay up and finish in 17th 🙂

        Marinakis can get lost though. Nottingham can go down. Hope the Hammers get to safety.

  69. They gave city 9 min added on from the 7 and they still drew 2-2 at home to forest. 7 clear! Upwards and upwards and upwards! Most goals scored, least conceeded in both the Prem and Cl. What a team we have! Probably one of the worst performances of the season but I don’t care. We were owed a lucky one after the liv 1-0, villa last kick win, wolves draw etc. 9 more to go, 6 at home

    2. They havent beaten us for 3 years, finished behind us in the league last year, did worse in the cl last year, did worse in the cl so far this year and have been behind us in the league all season despite us having the far harder start originally. Not surprised at all.

  71. From the moment Trossard and Kai came in we controlled the game

    Martinelli, Gyokeres, Eze is a disaster combination

    1 doesn’t help in retaining possession, 1 is a waste of space cannot do anything with the ball, 1 doesn’t want the ball in the midfield

    But Ladies & Gentlemen:
    “We’ve won this league”

    1. March 22 is the big one, get that 1st trophy in the bag and there will be no stopping us.

      1. Sue, City are not the team, everyone (who have been championing them) have been saying. They have 75% a new squad. They are still a good side but the ONLY way they can win the league is if we lose it. I have been saying City can not win the league. But we can lose it. City wouldn’t win the league because they are scary good. They are just a good team.

        2. Not disputing you Reggie. It’s the pundits and broadcasters as well as many supporters – the latter because of anxiety- who refer to City having been there and done it, so therefore, they win it if the going gets tough

        3. This is nonsense. Arsenal may be favourites but there is some way to go yet. MC are a very good side and there are several games left to play against some tough opponents.
          It’s quite ridiculous for people to be referring to one team or the other losing the league with so many games left to play and with the points tallied as close as they are.
          Even now MC are one of the most respected teams in Europe even if they are not quite at the same level as they were a few years ago.

          1. Your first line and last line completely contradict yourself. Nor for the first time.

  73. Come on people
    Hold your nerve
    Understand we are on edge, hearts going ten to the dozen. Its not about performance it’s about points and we got them, city didn’t a d 7 points clear
    8 to go and it was always but some doubted but destiny is firmly in our own hands
    Clean sheet
    Onwards and upwards

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