Arsenal v Brighton: Premier League preview, free tip & TV details

Football tips, best bets and predictions for Arsenal v Brighton in the Premier League.

Where to watch

Amazon Prime, 8.15pm Thursday

Best bet

Brighton to win second half
1pt 15-4 Betway, BoyleSports

Back this tip with Paddy Power

Team news

Arsenal
Dani Ceballos is expected to miss out and Hector Bellerin is a doubt.

Brighton
Bernard returns but Solly March and Joze Izquierdo remain out.

Match preview

Fredrik Ljungberg is doing his best to breathe some life into Arsenal's stuttering season but the Swede has inherited a fragile squad and may struggle to coax a victory out of them in his first home match.

The visit of Brighton will dredge up bad memories for Arsenal players and fans.

In May, the Seagulls delivered the knockout blow to Arsenal's top-four aspirations by grinding out a 1-1 draw at the Emirates.

Exactly seven months later they return with a stronger, more confident squad who have adapted impressively to the change in playing style demanded by manager Graham Potter.

Brighton are 16th and have three fewer points than at the same stage of last season.

But the majority of their fanbase enjoy the inventive, fearless football which Potter has brought to the table.

His team gave Liverpool a major scare on Saturday, pushing the league leaders all the way in a 2-1 defeat, and will fancy their chances of getting a better result against Arsenal.

Brighton appear to be going places under Potter, but Arsenal are at a crossroads, wondering which way to turn after the sacking of Unai Emery.

There seems no rush to appoint a permanent successor and the lack of urgency may be filtering down to the players.

Sunday's fixture at Norwich offered a great chance to get back to winning ways but, aside from a bright opening 15 minutes, it was more of the same.

Ljungberg's team twice came from behind but Norwich looked the fitter, stronger side for much of the final half-hour and Arsenal had goalkeeper Bernd Leno to thank for taking a point.

Arsenal won the second half for the first time in a league game since September but their laboured finish to the game was something supporters have become far too accustomed to witnessing.

It is all a far cry from this time last season when the Gunners had a reputation as a second-half team.

They failed to secure a half-time lead in their opening 17 league games of the 2018-19 campaign but often finished strongly and amassed 34 points from those fixtures.

Somewhere along the line, the relentless nature of Arsenal's performances has disappeared and it may not return until a top-class manager comes in and improves the fitness and mental resolve of the players.

A few new signings could also make a difference because there are weaknesses in the squad, especially in central defence with David Luiz, Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis Papastathopoulos struggling.

Attack may be the best form of defence for Arsenal and they may start brightly in front of a crowd eager to get behind a hugely popular manager.

However, the Gunners may struggle to keep up the tempo, offering a potential route back into the game for the visitors.

Brighton won the second half at Anfield on Saturday and are overpriced to do the same in London.