In the hopes of motivating his players, Arteta showed them clips from their Amazon documentary of last year's humbling 2-0 loss to Newcastle, which ended their Champions League comeback dreams. Despite concerns over their end-of-season aspirations, Arsenal nullified the Magpies' threat, securing a 2-0 victory thanks to Martin Odegaard's goal and Fabian Schar's own goal.
While Manchester City remains a formidable opponent, Arsenal is putting pressure on Pep Guardiola's team, trailing by just one point in second place with a game in hand. Sunday's game against Brighton is not a make-or-break moment for Arsenal's title hopes, but it is a significant test of their mettle before their final two fixtures against Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Although Arsenal has scored in their last 17 games in all competitions, their lack of resilience at home is well-known, and Brighton's manager Roberto De Zerbi has warned that his team will bring their A-game after last week's unexpected mauling by Everton.
Brighton sits in seventh place with games in hand on the teams around them, but their inconsistency on the road is a concern, having only won two of their last seven away matches in the top flight. However, the Seagulls have found the back of the net in 11 consecutive away games, although they have kept just two clean sheets on rival turf all season long. Brighton has remarkably prevailed in three of their last four trips to Arsenal, but the Gunners ended a tumultuous 2022 with a 4-2 victory at Amex on New Year's Eve.
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
Arsenal will be without Takehiro Tomiyasu and Mohamed Elneny, who are both ruled out for the rest of the season with knee injuries. Reports have suggested that William Saliba and Oleksandr Zinchenko are also set to miss the remainder of the campaign, but Mikel Arteta has denied these claims. Saliba has been slowly recovering from a back injury and may not play again this season, while Zinchenko sustained a calf problem against Newcastle and could be replaced by Kieran Tierney for the last few games.Jorginho may retain his place in the midfield after impressing against Newcastle, potentially keeping Thomas Partey out of the team, while former Brighton player Leandro Trossard may have to settle for a place on the bench.
Brighton, who already have several injury concerns, will also be without Solly March and Adam Webster, who both picked up injuries in their defeat to Everton. Jeremy Sarmiento, Tariq Lamptey, Joel Veltman, Adam Lallana, and Jakub Moder are also struggling with fitness issues, with only Veltman having a slim chance of playing at the Emirates.
Roberto De Zerbi will consider making changes to his lineup after their heavy defeat to Everton, with Levi Colwill, Julio Enciso, and Evan Ferguson all potential options. The latter may force Danny Welbeck, a former Arsenal player, to start on the bench.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Arsenal possible starting lineup:Ramsdale; White, Kiwior, Gabriel, Tierney; Odegaard, Jorginho, Xhaka; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Steele; Gross, Dunk, Colwill, Estupinan; Caicedo, Gilmour; Enciso, Mac Allister, Mitoma; Ferguson
EXPERT PREDICTION
Arsenal 3-2 Brighton
Arsenal will likely struggle with their build-up play without the passing prowess of Saliba and the line-breaking abilities of Zinchenko, which could give Brighton an advantage, especially since they have performed well at the Emirates in the past.
While a refresh could benefit Brighton after their recent setbacks, their manager De Zerbi is also dealing with injuries within his own team. Additionally, Brighton has struggled to establish a consistent formula for success on the road, which may result in them falling short against Arsenal. Despite their recent struggles, Arsenal is expected to keep the title fight going.
