Arsenal recovered from the two-game slip against Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League and will look to make it three straight wins this Wednesday at Brighton and Hove Albion.
After drawing two seemingly winnable games, the Gunners got out of a derby-filled week with six points against Tottenham Hotspur away and Chelsea at home.
Arsenal predicted lineup vs Brighton
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Norgaard, Zubimendi; Saka, Eze, Martinelli; Gyokeres.
While they are five points clear of Manchester City in second, the Citizens do have a game in hand. And their form (six straight wins across all competitions) leaves no margin for error for Mikel Arteta’s men.
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Arsenal team news vs Brighton
Arteta could be forced to make a change or two for the upcoming game against Brighton. Declan Rice asked to leave the Chelsea game in the second half.
In his pre-match presser, the Spanish manager did provide an update on Rice’s fitness, saying he was feeling much better. But still, it could be time for a much deserved rest – seeing as the Englishman has started eight of their last 10 games overall.
Elsewhere, considering the Gunners will face Mansfield in an FA Cup tie on the weekend before making the trip to Leverkusen in the Champions League, it could be the opportunity for Arteta to go with full strength.
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Mikel Merino is still out long term, Ben White is sure to miss the Brighton game, while Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz are doubts. David Raya and Max Dowman, however, are both available to face the Seagulls.
It could be the opportunity for Norgaard to step up this Wednesday and a youngster to get the nod in centre-midfield for the FA Cup. Rice would be back and rested for the Bayer Leverkusen game next week.
Seagulls a tougher opponent now
When Arsenal hosted Brighton in the reverse fixture in December, the score made the game look closer than it actually was.
The Gunners had a dominant first-half performance, amassing 15 shots, three big chances and 3.5 Expected Goals to zero from the opponent. Although it took an own goal for Arsenal to extend their lead and Diego Gomez got one back for the visitors, that was all.
It was the fifth of a six-game winless run by Fabian Hurzeler’s men, who would still go on to draw away at West Ham United before New Year’s Eve.
Now, however, they will host the Gunners off of two straight wins, against Brentford away and Nottingham Forest at home. Before that, they gave Liverpool a lot of trouble in a great first half, but faded in the second and lost 0-3.