Brighton take on Arsenal in a tantalising matchup during a 2024/25 Premier League season that has had several flashpoints.
Brighton and Arsenal are level on points in the standings which should make this a tense Premier League encounter.
They drew 1-1 at the Emirates Stadium the last time they met but the Gunners are now unbeaten in their last three games against the Seagulls
Brighton had a brilliant start to life under Fabian Hurzeler – who replaced Roberto De Zerbi over the summer – with two fantastic wins, but those quickly turned to draws and then defeat on Matchday 6 against Chelsea.
They bounced back with three games unbeaten immediately after but suffered a second-half turnaround against Liverpool, their powers of recovery were on full display a week later as Joao Pedro and Matt O’Riley came off the bench to complete a sensational comeback against Manchester City.
The Seagulls are showing themselves to be genuine contenders for the top six positions and Arsenal must be wary of them in a congested league table.
Brighton are only behind the Gunners on goal difference as they sit fifth in the league table after 12 games. They are poised to upset the hopes of the North Londoners who are seeking a route back into the title race.
Arsenal have been tipped to push Manchester City for the title this term and they will be desperate to go all the way in their third consecutive title race.
However, the season so far has blown hot and cold with a ten-match unbeaten start ended by a 2-0 loss at Bournemouth. Arsenal were winless in their next three Premier League matches against Liverpool, Newcastle and Chelsea, marking the first time they have gone four games without a top-flight win since April 2023.
They set out to regain their rhythm and avoid falling further behind domestic rivals by thrashing Nottingham Forest 3-0 at the Emirates. That win settled some nerves but they are still nine points behind the top of the table and must continue to conjure up crucial results.
This trip to Brighton will be a competitive affair and they must be up for the challenge or risk another upset that will further dent their fragile title hopes.
Amidst a gruelling run of fixtures, Mikel Arteta must rotate his squad to cope with the schedule but retain positive results. They must continue to fight for a higher place on the standings as they are level with Chelsea and Brighton, but only a single point behind second-placed Man City.
A lot can happen over the run of festive fixtures and Arsenal will be desperate to regain lost ground on their rivals.
Meanwhile, they are enjoying better fortunes on the continent having secured a dominant 5-1 victory over Sporting Lisbon which takes them to seventh on the Champions League standings with a strong chance of qualifying for the Round of 16.
They will be keen to translate some of that excellent form into their league games which have so far thrown up different scenarios to cope with. Brighton must be regarded as domestic rivals right now and getting maximum points here will aid their own fortunes and knock off a potential competitor.
Match tickets
This Premier League matchday 20 fixture takes place on Saturday, 4 January 2025 with kick-off scheduled for 5:30 PM UK time. It promises to be a memorable occasion and match tickets are now available for sale on the website of each individual club, with priority access given to club members and season ticket holders.
The AMEX Stadium is a pleasant arena to visit on a matchday, but their fans will be hoping the opponents have the most uncomfortable time on the pitch. There are limited seats available in the 31,000-capacity stadium, so several Arsenal supporters will be desperate to get a seat.
We urge those still looking for Brighton vs Arsenal tickets to find them on a resale site, where Arsenal tickets are available.
Team news
Ferdi Kadioglu, Solly March and Yankuba Minteh are Brighton’s only injury doubts currently and they will look to keep the squad fit.
Gabriel Magalhaes went off injured against Sporting, but he is not thought to be seriously injured. With Ben White already sidelined for the foreseeable future, Arteta will want to call upon Jakub Kiwior or Riccardo Calafiori should Gabriel miss out.
Line-ups
Hurzeler has instilled a dynamic brand of attacking football with an aggressive defensive line to support their pressing and wave of attacks. In keeping with club tradition, the manager has met a talented group of players at the club who are executing his style of football to fantastic results.
Carlos Baleba is emerging into one of the best young players in the league this season while Joao Pedro will play an important role linking up attacking moves in the final third.
Brighton: Verbruggen; Veltman, Dunk, Van Hecke, Estupinan; Ayari, Baleba; Rutter, Pedro, Mitoma; Welbeck
Arsenal will look to regain their impeccable solidity which set their side apart until injuries and suspensions caused them to chop and change their backline. Jurrien Timber has proved a useful outlet in all the defensive positions and his versatility would be key regardless of Gabriel’s injury status.
Arteta’s side have also struggled for creativity without Martin Odegaard, who has created the most chances in the Premier League despite missing a lot of games. His creativity was sorely missed and it would be the key to producing passes in behind Brighton’s backline.
Arsenal: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Prediction
Hurzeler’s men will put up a good fight but Arteta’s winning machine is expected to make it past this tricky game. An interesting tactical battle awaits and the first goal would determine the outcome of the rest of the matchup.
With several attack-minded players, flair, physicality and quality on show, there will be goals scored, but they may just end up being shared by both teams.
Brighton 2-2 Arsenal