Premier League leaders Arsenal are looking to end 2022 on a high when they travel to the Amex to face Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday night
Date/Time : 31 December, 18:30 CET
Referee: Anthony Taylors
The Gunners defeated West Ham United 3-1 on Boxing Day while the Seagulls defeated Southampton on the south coast by the same goal.
The short trip up the south coast to his former home was an interesting journey for former Southampton player Adam Lallana who, out of sympathy for Gavin Bazunu, always kept his celebrations to a minimum whenever he scored the first goal at St Mary’s.
Lallana’s header sailed past Bazunu before Romain Perraud converted it into his own net before half-time and Solly March then found the top corner with a great shot before James Ward-Prowse provided late consolation for the Saints.
Roberto De Zerbi has warned Brighton’s recent opponents to beware of an “angry” Seagulls XI following their EFL Cup elimination from League 1 by Charlton Athletic, but after returning to the Premier League this weekend’s hosts remain in Europe Run. Seventh in the table.
Depending on how Liverpool fare against Leicester City on Friday, Brighton could find themselves in the top six in 2023 after a memorable year under Graham Potter and De Zerbi, although the latter has already lost two of his four Premier League home games. To turn on. seagulls.
However, Brighton’s defensive prowess at the Amex is alive and well – having conceded just six Premier League home goals so far in the 2022/23 season – and the Seagulls have gained a reputation for beating Arsenal in recent years.
Arsenal No. 14 Eddie Nketiah has thrived under pressure to fill Gabriel Jesus’ boots and insisted he does not want to replace his injured team-mate after making an attractive comeback from the Gunners in the London derby with West Ham .
The Premier League leaders had work to do 45 seconds after Said Benrahman’s penalty gave the Hammers a goal, but a good comeback and a goal from Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Nketiah got the Gunners back on track where they were had stopped.
Victory over the capital opponents gave Arsenal a temporary seven-point lead over Newcastle United at the top; That deficit has now been reduced to five points following Manchester City’s success at Leeds United, but Mikel Arteta’s men will celebrate New Year’s Eve at the top of the table.
Critics point out Arsenal have two games left against Man City, but every other side to have 40 points from their first 15 Premier League games of the season has won the title and the World Cup break. doesn’t seem to bother the momentum of the leaders behind.
Arsenal traveled to the Amex after taking 13 points from their last 15 away games – and conceding just one goal on the hot run – but Brighton beat an exhausted Gunners 3-1 in the EFL Cup last month and conceded just a single defeat of the Premier League against the Capital Club in front of the faithful of the Amex.
The only thing that upset Roberto De Zerbi in Brighton’s Boxing Day win over Southampton was Moises Caicedo’s yellow card. The warning, which appeared in the 85th minute after a long game won, guarantees the suspension of the instrumental midfielder this Saturday.
Danny Welbeck could return to face his former club as he nears the end of a muscle injury but Adam Webster and the famous Alexis Mac Allister are not expected to arrive before January.
Jakub Moder is expected to return on an interim basis in February after an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Gabriel Jesus continues his recovery from a knee injury while Reiss Nelson has a major hamstring problem. Emile Smith Rowe and Takehiro Tomiyasu could return for New Year’s Eve after groin and hamstring problems.
Brighton vs Arsenal H2H Results (Last 5)
Brighton: 2 Wins
Arsenal: 2 Wins
Draws: 1
Current Form (Last Five Games)
Brighton: W W L D W
Arsenal: W W L W W
Probable Lineups:
Brighton (4-2-3-1):
Sanchez; Veltman, Dunk, Colwill, Estupinan; Gross, Gilmour; March, Lallana, Mitoma; Trossard
Arsenal (4-3-3):
Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Partey, Xhaka; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli