Brighton v Arsenal

Arsenal needs to keep up the winning habit and with Man City hot on their tail they cannot afford any more slipups. Can a mid-table Brighton but a dent in their title hopes?

Brighton v Arsenal – Amex Stadium 20:30 CET

Team News:

Webster and Tzimas are out for Brighton. Yasin Ayari is fit after missing the last few matches and Mats Wieffer is rated doubtful after leaving the last match injured.

Merino is out for sure, but Odegaard and Rice are doubts here. Both players are feeling slight injuries so may be rested.

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Formations:

4-2-3-1 for Brighton but it can morph into 4-3-3 or even 3-4-3 as they are fluid in game. High defensive line for them with intense pressing. Wing backs motoring up and down the pitch.

4-2-3-1 for Arsenal. Their game is all about defensively solidity and they remain incredibly dangerous from corners and throw-ins.  

Statistics:

Referee: Chris Kavanagh (Average Cards 3.68 Yellow 0.08 Red)

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Match Preview:

Brighton are in 11^th place but are only six points off the European places. They have a twelve-point lead over West Ham in the drop zone so you would consider them safe. Home form reads six wins from their fourteen games with just two losses in that time. Recent form has improved with back to back wins. Before that they had a winless run of five games including four losses.

Arsenal are five points ahead of Man City with both teams playing at same time. Away form reads eight wins from fifteen games with no team gaining more points on the road. Recent all competitions form is great with an unbeaten run of nine games.  Seven wins and two draws in that run.

Betting Preview:

Arsenal are like Stoke City under Tony Pulis but on steroids. They have developed a thick skin as they come under pressure from neutrals for their direct and no-nonsense approach. Arsenal will have too much for Brighton and a win for them is a good price.