Arsenal broke their losing streak against Aston Villa with a 2-0 win last weekend, while Brighton edged out Manchester United with a dramatic 2-1 victory. Unai Emery, now managing Aston Villa, has enjoyed getting revenge on Arsenal since his departure in 2019. However, last weekend was a different story, as Leandro Trossard’s clinical finish and a powerful long-range goal from Thomas Partey, helped along by Emiliano Martinez, gave Arsenal a much-needed win.
The game’s pivotal moment came when Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya made an incredible save from a close-range Ollie Watkins header, a stop that will likely be remembered as one of the Premier League’s finest. Thanks to contributions from both ends of the pitch, Arsenal is now one of only four teams with a perfect six points from two games this season, joining Brighton, Liverpool, and Manchester City at the top.
Arsenal has won their last eight Premier League matches, and if Mikel Arteta's side secures another victory on Saturday, they will achieve nine straight league wins for the first time since their historic "Invincibles" season in 2003-04. Arteta has rightly earned praise for his achievements as a young manager, but this weekend he faces Fabian Hurzeler, a rising star on the South Coast who was just 18 when Arteta joined Arsenal as a player in 2011.
Brighton, fresh from a 3-0 win over a depleted Everton, managed to outplay Manchester United in challenging conditions at the Amex Stadium. Goals from former Manchester United player Danny Welbeck and Joao Pedro made Amad Diallo's strike irrelevant.
Brighton had a scare when Joshua Zirkzee, who was offside, helped Alejandro Garnacho's effort into the net, but they held on for their second competitive win under Hurzeler, who also guided them to a 4-0 EFL Cup victory over Crawley Town earlier in the week.
With a 100% record under Hurzeler, the 31-year-old now aims to break the curse that saw Brighton fail to win any of their seven Premier League games in London last season. However, their most recent trip to the capital saw them claim a 3-0 victory over Arsenal in May 2023. But Arteta's men got their revenge last season, securing two wins over Brighton, including a 3-0 triumph at the Amex.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Before the match, reports emerged that Gabriel Jesus had picked up a groin injury during training. As expected, he was absent from the squad at Villa Park and is likely to miss Saturday's game as well, though the injury isn't considered serious.Jesus joins Arsenal’s growing injury list, which already includes Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) and Kieran Tierney (hamstring). Additionally, new signing Mikel Merino is out after reportedly fracturing his shoulder in his first training session with the club.
Even if Merino were available, he was expected to start on the bench. Thomas Partey, who scored last weekend, is likely to continue in midfield alongside Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard. Leandro Trossard, after a strong performance, may get the nod to start against his former club, potentially replacing the underperforming Gabriel Martinelli.
On the Brighton side, their new signing Matt O'Riley had a tough start, getting injured just nine minutes into his debut against Crawley due to a late tackle. Manager Fabian Hurzeler was pessimistic about O'Riley's condition, so he’s expected to join Solly March (knee) on the sidelines. Brajan Gruda and Mats Wieffer are also dealing with minor injuries and will be assessed before the match.
Evan Ferguson returned to the bench midweek after an ankle issue, but he’s unlikely to replace Danny Welbeck, who is aiming to score in three consecutive Premier League games for the first time in a decade.
Additionally, Turkish Euro 2024 star Ferdi Kadioglu, who was once linked with a move to Arsenal, might make his debut at left-back for Brighton.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Arsenal possible starting lineup:Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Trossard
Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Steele; Veltman, Dunk, Van Hecke, Kadioglu; Milner, Gilmour; Minteh, Pedro, Mitoma; Welbeck
EXPERT PREDICTION
Arsenal 2-1 Brighton
In their early Premier League days, Brighton often had the upper hand against Arsenal, but over the past year, the Gunners have built an unmatched defensive strength in the league.
While Hurzeler’s Brighton will likely put up a strong fight, Arteta’s well-oiled team should secure their third straight win, likely ending Brighton’s perfect start, even if it’s not a high-scoring affair.
