Brighton v Arsenal predictions: Gunners poised to go out on top

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Brighton v Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event & Premier League, 5.30pm Saturday

Best bet

Draw-Arsenal double result
1pt 9-2 bet365, Betfair, Hills

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Team news

Brighton
Moises Caicedo is suspended and World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister is unlikely to be involved. Adam Webster and Danny Welbeck are a week away from returning and Jakob Moder is still out.

Arsenal
Gabriel Jesus and Reiss Nelson are out. Takehiro Tomiyasu and Emile Smith Rowe have returned to training.

Match preview

Brighton, one of three teams to beat Arsenal this year, are enjoying another fairytale campaign but are going to have their work cut out if they are to deny the Premier League leaders again.

Admittedly, when Brighton beat the Gunners in the League Cup in November it was a clash of the second strings.

And the Seagulls totally failed to take advantage of that triumph by losing to Charlton on penalties in the next round.

But any win over Arsenal this season, whatever the competition, is worthy of celebration, although Premier League progress is clearly the top priority for Roberto de Zerbi and another indicator of that progress would be denying Arsenal three points at the Amex.

And Albion have the tools to trouble any of the top teams this term having beaten Manchester United and Chelsea and drawn with Newcastle and Liverpool.

But this looks an altogether tougher task against a team who are firing on all cylinders and selection issues mean it could be the hosts who look exposed by the end. Indeed, Arsenal to win the second half at 7-5 looks a pretty decent bet while the draw-Gunners double result at 9-2 may well be the best option for decent rewards.

Brighton are generally a first-half team. Fifty-eight percent of their goals have been scored in the first half of games. At Southampton on Boxing Day they were excellent in the first period, slightly less so in the second, running out comfortable 3-1 winners.

The question mark over Brighton is the depth of their squad and that will be tested in the most critical of areas against the Gunners. World Cup-winning midfielder Alexis Mac Allister isn't back in training yet, Moises Caicedo is suspended and 34-year-old Adam Lallana struggles to do two games in a week and will do well to manage an hour against Arsenal.

Suddenly there is a massive midfield imbalance which Arsenal ought to be able to exploit, especially as the game goes on.

And they are a second-half side having scored 61 percent of their goals after the break.

Boxing Day was classic. They were okay in the first half at home to West Ham despite falling a goal behind but then turned on the style in the second period, running out 3-1 winners.

They didn't miss Gabriel Jesus against the Hammers but faced with tougher tests – of which Brighton are one – they may well do.

But they have players who can turn games when defences are getting ragged.

Given that Arsenal have won 13 of 15 league matches this term there may be a temptation simply to back Mikel Arteta's men over 90 minutes.

But since they have also won nine second halves, including each of their last four, the draw-Arsenal double result gets the nod.

Key stat

Brighton have lost only two of their last ten against Arsenal in all competitions.

Inside info

Brighton

Penalty taker Leandro Trossard
Assist ace Solly March
Set-piece aerial threat Lewis Dunk
Card magnet Pervis Estupinan

Arsenal

Penalty taker Bukayo Saka
Assist ace Bukayo Saka
Set-piece aerial threat William Saliba
Card magnet William Saliba

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