The Football Faithful
·4 de enero de 2025
The Football Faithful
·4 de enero de 2025
Arsenal aim for a fifth consecutive win in all competitions when the Gunners travel to Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday evening.
A comeback win at Brentford saw the North Londoners climb to second on New Year’s Day, following Chelsea’s defeat at Ipswich.
Mikel Arteta’s men are now unbeaten in 12 games across all competitions but remain six points behind leaders Liverpool. A win at the AMEX Stadium will reduce the gap to three points and increase the pressure on the table toppers, ahead of Liverpool’s fixture with Manchester United the following day.
Brighton are without a win in seven games but held Arsenal in the reverse fixture at the Emirates. A controversial red card for Declan Rice handed the Seagulls a man advantage with Joao Pedro rescuing a result after Kai Havertz’s opener.
Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Kai Havertz is available after the club’s leading scorer missed the win at Brentford through illness. Raheem Sterling has returned to the grass with his knee issue not as bad as first feared, though this fixture will come too soon for the on-loan winger.
Jurrien Timber is out through suspension after picking up five bookings so Thomas Partey is likely to deputise at full-back. That change should allow Declan Rice to return in midfield.
Further forward, Ethan Nwaneri made his full Premier League debut against Brentford and the 17-year-old will hope to retain his place. Nwaneri started on the right-wing in the absence of the injured Bukayo Saka.
Arsenal predicted XI: Raya; Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Rice, Merino; Martinelli, Jesus, Havertz.
Brighton host Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday 4th January 2024. Kick-off at the AMEX Stadium is 17:30 GMT.
The game will be shown live on Sky Sports in the UK.