Arsenal travel to Brighton this weekend, hoping to extend their run of 10 Premier League matches unbeaten. The Gunners are pushing for a first Premier League title in 20 years, and they will be hoping to put the pressure on Liverpool before they face Man United. This is how Arsenal can overcome Roberto De Zerbi’s side down on the South Coast.
Arsenal Have to Win at Brighton to Continue Title Chase
Arsenal Must Press and Restrict Brighton’s Ability to Play
One of Arsenal’s most assured performances in the first half of the season was against Brighton at the Emirates. The north Londoners suffocated a Seagulls side that is proficient at playing at a controlled tempo. Speaking after the reverse game in December De Zerbi said: “We are not used to suffering in this way. We are used to controlling the game.”
Key players to help the Gunners create unease in the Brighton side will be Declan Rice and relentless attacking pressers Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka. None of those three players started the win against Luton in midweek, but it would be a welcome boost for Mikel Arteta to have them all back at 100% for this match.
Patience Needed Against an Underrated Defence
Brighton have an underrated defensive record this season boasting the 4th best outfit in terms of xG against in the league. They have only conceded 42.8 xG against this season, only bettered by title challengers Arsenal (21.1), Man City (29.2), Liverpool (35.8) and Crystal Palace (42.4).
Brighton have only lost once at home in the league this season, against West Ham back in August, so this will be a huge task for this Arsenal side. Their record away at the Amex does not make for great reading, with two wins, two draws and two losses in their last six.
A fast start last year saw Arsenal score within the first few minutes and take a 2-0 lead into halftime. They also scored early on in the second half to pretty much kill the game, and they will be hoping with the return of their dynamic wingers that they’ll be able to cut through Brighton’s midfield and take an early lead to calm the nerves.
If Arteta’s side are going to push for this Premier League title – they will have to win at difficult away grounds like the Amex. They managed to shutout Man City at the Etihad last week, and they will be hoping to go one better and take all three points from De Zerbi’s Brighton side this weekend.
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