Premier League: Brighton Next for Ambitious Arsenal

Arsenal vs Brighton & Hove Albion

League leaders Arsenal are back at the Emirates on Saturday when Brighton and Hove Albion are the latest team to try to knock the Gunners off their perch. 

Arsenal’s hard fought win over Everton last week ensured they stayed at the top of the Premier League table for Christmas but Manchester City have suddenly appeared in the rear view mirror and Mikel Arteta’s men need to keep their feet on the gas as they move into the New Year, when the Sky Blues traditionally gather momentum.

And momentum is something that Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton have lost as the deep mid winter bites, rather like they did last season before recovering when the sun started to shine again down on the south coast. The Seagulls come into the game on the back of a goalless draw at home to Sunderland while Arsenal picked up a hard earned 1-0 win away to Everton.

With 20 games still to play after Arsenal host Brighton, nothing will be settled on Saturday but Arteta is determined his team will shrug off its role of annual runners-up; and the ambitious Gunners will aim to see out 2025 still as top dogs before they start their run-in to what promises to be a superb title race.      

 

Talking Points

Time for Arsenal’s squad to show is quality

Early in the campaign it looked like Arsenal were ready to sprint away in the title race with 2025 champions Liverpool having a nightmare and Manchester City starting slowly; but the Premier League 2025 betting odds have tightened over the past week or so as the Sky Blues pick up the pace.

This is not the time to worry for a team which leads both the Premier League and the Champions League, and the Gunners must keep their nerve, and the manager will rely on his full squad as things heat up into 2026. The return of inspirational captain Martin Odegaard has strengthened Arteta’s hand while, up front, the Brazilian duo of Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli has further increased his options. It is almost a year since Jesus started a competitive game, but his return will take some of the pressure off summer signing Viktor Gyokores, who scored Arsenal’s winner against Everton.

At the back, the loss of centre half Gabriel, who was injured on duty with Brazil, has weakened the team at set pieces, at both ends of the pitch. But while he looks likely to return in the coming weeks Piero Hincapie is a classy replacement alongside the ever reliable William Saliba.     

 

Stuttering Seagulls have caught a cold

Brighton’s Premier League 2025 results were pretty impressive over the first three months and they were only two points behind third place at the end of November, but they have had a torrid time in December picking up just two points from four games. The Seagulls failed to lay a glove on spirited Sunderland last week, their best chance blasted over the bar by Yasin Ayari.   

With seven goals veteran striker Danny Welbeck is the Premier League’s joint fifth top scorer but he missed the game against the Black Cats, struggling with a back injury, and Hurzeler won’t rush the 35 year old back, though his composure in front of goal was sorely missed against Sunderland. In the meantime Georginio Rutter is leading the attack with Greek striker Charalampos Kostoulas standing by.

Brighton’s winless run has included away defeats to high flying Aston Villa and Liverpool, with the bigger frustrations coming in draws at home to Sunderland and West Ham United. But a trip away to Arsenal is unlikely to provide any post Christmas cheer for Hurzeler and his men.       

 

History

The Seagulls have enjoyed plenty of success in their previous 20 meetings with Arsenal, winning six to the Gunners’ nine and there have been five draws. They have done even better at the Emirates Stadium, matching Arsenal’s four wins and there have been two draws from the last ten.

Last season, while Arteta’s team beat Brighton in the EFL Cup, both league games ended in a 1-1 draw. But in terms of recent form the Gunners are stronger, with four wins, one draw and one loss from their last six outings while Brighton have two wins, two draws and two defeats.   

 

Betting Tip

The Gunners have an EFL Cup tie with Crystal Palace on Tuesday night which gives Brighton more time to prepare for Saturday’s clash, but Arteta will shuffle his pack for the cup clash and he has plenty of resources to call on for the Premier League. Arsenal are the red hot favourites at SBOTOP odds of 1.37 with the draw at 4.40 and a Seagulls win at 8.00. But I’m going for goals, not a glut but two or three.

   

●●●

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS

Stay updated with everything sports and betting.

Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.