English Premier
2025-01-04 - Brighton vs Arsenal
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 4th January 2025 - Kick Off 5:30pm
This game is live on TV
Brighton
A late goal prevented Brighton slipping to a defeat at Villa Park, but Fabian Hurzeler and the players will be very keen to open 2025 with a victory after a poor run of form. Those in upper management might be trying to temper the enthusiasm of the fans and the expectations that have been growing, but Brighton have to believe they are strong enough to earn a return to European Football at the end of this campaign.
They might be 10th in the Premier League table, but Brighton are only 3 points behind 7th placed Bournemouth with that likely to be a position that brings European Football to the club that finishes there. The Seagulls have a 3-5-1 record at the Amex Stadium this season where they have scored 13 goals and conceded 12.
Brighton have now failed to win any of their last 7 Premier League games, but they have proven to be a stubborn nut to crack with 5 of those matches ending in draws, including at Villa Park on Monday. The side beat Manchester City at the Amex Stadium, but Brighton have played 3 Premier League games here since then and have drawn with Southampton and Brentford, results that have sandwiched the defeat to rivals Crystal Palace.
Pervis Estupinen and Adam Webster are hoping to be available for selection, but Danny Welbeck is unlikely to be involved against his former club. The veteran striker is one of a host of players that are currently out of action for Brighton.
Arsenal
With Chelsea and Manchester City stumbling, Arsenal have come out of the pack as the leading contenders to Liverpool in the Premier League title race. Things might have been a lot different if Arsenal had failed to turn things around at Brentford on New Year's Day when conceding first, but Mikel Arteta's team were comfortable 1-3 winners at the end and that will offer all associated with the club plenty of encouragement.
The leaders have a game in hand, but Arsenal are 2nd in the Premier League table and 6 points behind Liverpool with an opportunity to halve that gap before the latter play again. The Gunners were able to improve their away record to 5-3-2 after the win in West London on Wednesday afternoon.
Arsenal look to have put some positive momentum behind their play and have won 4 in a row in all competitions. The side have come out of the last international break with plenty of confidence to perform on their travels and Arsenal have won 4 of their last 5 away games in all competitions, including winning back to back away Premier League fixtures at Crystal Palace and Brentford since the 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage.
Bukayo Saka is out for some time, and Arsenal have been dealing with a sickness bug that had filtered through the camp before the game at Brentford. Only Kai Havertz was absent on New Year's Day, but it is something to keep an eye on before this fixture is played. Jurrien Timber will serve a one match suspension after picking up another booking last time out.
Head to Head
A controversial red card was handed to Declan Rice with Arsenal leading Brighton 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium earlier this season and the fixture ended 1-1.
Brighton have not only failed to win any of their last 4 at home against Arsenal, but they have lost 3 of those fixtures.
Prediction
The late kick off in the Premier League on Saturday sees Arsenal try to keep the pressure on leaders Liverpool with this game being played twenty-four hours before the latter host Manchester United at Anfield.
Mikel Arteta and the fans have to be very pleased with the Arsenal performance at the Gtech Community Stadium on Wednesday, even if the schedule means they have had two fewer days to prepare for this fixture compared with their hosts.
Arsenal have put four wins together and they have shown they can find a way to earn three points without Bukayo Saka, even if the England international remains a major absentee. Gabriel Jesus has rediscovered something in front of goal, which is a huge boost for The Gunners, and Arsenal have been very efficient in the final third when playing on their travels.
They will most certainly feel they can test a Brighton defence that has given up some big opportunities while struggling to put wins on the board.
Fabian Hurzeler's men remain dangerous going forward though and that is something that Arsenal will have to respect.
Declan Rice should be available to start having begun on the bench at Brentford, which will help, and Arsenal have shown they can exploit gaps left behind by teams who want to express themselves. That is clearly the plan for Brighton, but Crystal Palace showed what can be achieved against The Seagulls and both Southampton and Brentford had their opportunities here.
Arsenal should be more ruthless when the opportunities present and they have a solid record at the Amex Stadium in recent seasons. That should continue here as long as Arsenal just handle the pressure of closing the gap on leaders Liverpool and The Gunners can show their firepower in the final third to earn an important victory on Saturday.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Brighton 1-3 Arsenal
