Brighton vs Arsenal Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Brighton and Hove Albion have hit a bit of a wall in the last month or so after an exciting start to the campaign with the Seagulls now facing still title challenging Arsenal at the AMEX Stadium.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday 4th January, 2025: UK – 5:30pm / US ET – 12:30pm / US PT – 9:30am
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / US – NBC
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / US – Telemundo
Brighton Preview: Struggling Seagulls
Brighton and Hove Albion come into this one on the back of an entertaining 2-2 draw against Aston Villa at Villa Park last week. Brighton took an early lead via Simon Adingra before falling behind but then snatched a point late on with a goal from defender Tariq Lamptey.
The Seagulls, with Fabian Hurzeler at the helm, had launched themselves towards the top six and the European spots in the early stages of this campaign but that draw with Villa means they are now winless in their last seven matches with five draws and two defeats.
Arsenal Preview: Gunning for more
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal started 2025 with a much-needed victory as they desperately try to cling onto runaway league leaders Liverpool at the top-of-the-table in the Premier League. They went away to the Gtech Community Stadium on New Year’s Day and had to come from behind.
Cameroonian international forward Bryan Mbeumo gave Brentford an early lead in that clash in west London but Gabriel Jesus continued his good form to level things before half-time with Arsenal then running out 3-1 winners thanks to strikes from Mikel Merino and Gabriel Martinelli.
Brighton Team News: Additional Heading Here
Evan Ferguson and Danny Welbeck are both unavailable for this weekend but Adam Webster is expected to return, whilst Hurzeler says he hopes Pervis Estupinan will be fit after suffering from illness. New signing Diego Gomez is not yet ready to play as he builds up his fitness.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Lamptey, Van Hecke, Dunk, Igor; Ayari, Baleba; Gruda, Enciso, Adingra; Pedro
Unavailable: Kadioglu (Injured), Milner (Injured), Wieffer (Injured), Hinshelwood (Injured), Gomez (Fitness), Ferguson (Injured), Welbeck (Injured)
Questionable: Estupinan (Illness)
Arsenal Team News: Havertz returns but Timber suspended
Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Germany international Kai Havertz has returned to the squad after missing the New Year's Day clash with Brentford through illness. Takehiro Tomiyasu and Raheem Sterling have returned to partial training but Jurrien Timber is now unavailable due to suspension.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Rice, Merino; Trossard, Jesus, Martinelli
Unavailable: Tomiyasu (Fitness), White (Injured), Timber (Suspended), Saka (Injured), Sterling (Fitness)
Questionable:
Brighton vs Arsenal Prediction
Fabian Hurzeler is not necessarily under pressure down at the AMEX Stadium but there is a growing frustration. His patient build-up play is what made Brighton want him so much after guiding St Pauli to promotion to the Bundesliga last season. However, they are struggling to find an urgency and incision in attack and, up against an Arsenal side that know how to control a match themselves, an eighth game without a win would seem quite likely here.
Brighton vs Arsenal Tip: Arsenal to win
