ARSENAL: WHAT TO EXPECT FROM BRIGHTON

The Seagulls are a side who have been steadily progressing over the last few years, making their way from narrowly avoiding relegation in the 2018/19 season, to knocking on the door of European football last term with a 9th placed finish.

 

Brighton are known for playing an attractive, pass and move style of football thanks to the influence of former manager Graham Potter before he departed for Chelsea.

 

Their shortcomings in recent years have been centred around a lack of potency in front of goal, but the fine form of Belgian international Leandro Trossard makes this less of an issue for them at the moment. The tricky winger has 7 Premier League goals to his name so far, including an outstanding hat-trick away at Anfield that secured a 3-3 draw with Liverpool.

 

He also netted a short-lived equaliser against Manchester City back in October, and against Chelsea the following week in an impressive 4-1 victory, so has to be seen as the main cause for concern to Arsenal's defence.

 

It's not just Trossard that The Gunners will need to keep a close eye on though. Pascal Gross has 5 goals to his name including a double against Manchester United, and Arsenal will no doubt be aware of the aerial threat posed by Danny Welbeck, who spent 5 seasons at The Emirates from 2014/15 to 2019/20.

 

The Amex has become a difficult place to visit, with The Seagulls beaten just twice at home in the league this season. One defeat came against a rejuvenated Aston Villa under Unai Emery, and the other a narrow 1-0 loss to Spurs in which they were very unlucky to come away with nothing.

 

Of course, Arsenal and Brighton are no strangers to each other this season, having played in the 3rd round of the Carabao Cup at The Emirates back in November. On that occasion, the visitors ran out 3-1 winners against an albeit much-changed gunners side after going a goal behind, so Mikel Arteta will no doubt be aware of the quality they possess.

 

Kaoru Mitoma was a goalscorer on that occasion, and although he has just 1 Premier League goal in his first 10 games this season, the Japanese International is very dangerous in one-on-one situations, showing great pace and trickery.

 

Alexis MacAllister is unlikely to feature being fresh off the back of World Cup glory with Argentina, but Arsenal must also be aware of the quality of former Liverpool man Adam Lallana, and that of Solly March, scorer of a stunning long-range strike in the 3-1 victory against Southampton on Boxing Day.

 

Roberto De Zerbi and his side have big ambitions of their own this season, and will surely provide a stern test for Arsenal on Saturday evening. In fact, The Seagulls have become somewhat of a bogey side for The Gunners in recent times, taking 4 points from a maximum 6 against them last season.

 

This looks to be a real test of the North Londoner's Title credentials, and they cannot afford to take a lively and impressive Brighton side lightly if they are to leave the South Coast with 3 points.