Brighton - Arsenal

Arsenal aim to close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool to just three points when they visit Brighton this Saturday. While this could be a brief reduction before Liverpool face Manchester United on Sunday, a consistent winning streak is crucial for Mikel Arteta's team to put pressure on their rivals.

Three consecutive Premier League victories provide encouragement, particularly given Bukayo Saka's ongoing absence. There's reason to believe the Amex Stadium may not pose as significant a challenge as it sometimes does. Brighton, under Fabian Hurzeler, are currently on a seven-game winless run in the league, though they have drawn their last three, including a late draw at Aston Villa. For Arsenal, anything less than a win would be a major setback.

Brighton News

Brighton manager Hurzeler received a boost with the potential returns of Adam Wester and Jack Hinshelwood, although both are expected to start on the bench. Concerns surrounding Pervis Estupinan's illness were eased with the hope he'll be available, especially with Ferdi Kadioglu still recovering from a toe injury. While Evan Ferguson is doubtful and Danny Welbeck remains out, the possibility of Kaoru Mitoma's return alongside Joao Pedro, despite his goal drought since November, offers a glimmer of hope for Brighton's attack against Arsenal. New signing Diego Gomez will not be available for Saturday's game.

Hurzeler emphasized the importance of courage and intensity in all areas of the game to overcome Arsenal.

Push all limits in every phase of the game. Continue to play with courage and intensity. The results have not been good [recently] but the performances are there. We have shown we can beat every team in this league. If we don't play with courage in possession, we have no chance.

Arsenal News

Kai Havertz is set to return after recovering from illness, having missed the New Year's Day victory against Brentford. However, Jurrien Timber will be unavailable due to suspension after accumulating his fifth yellow card of the season on Wednesday. Several players remain sidelined, with Raheem Sterling expected back next week and Ben White potentially returning towards the end of the month.

Manager Arteta emphasized the need for even greater consistency to win the title. "We have to show the same level of consistency and a bit more," he stated, highlighting the team's strong performance over the past year, which included breaking records without securing a major trophy. He believes success hinges on "very thin, small details" and that "we're so close and we just have to flip that coin to the other side." Arteta stressed the importance of focusing on what the team can control, acknowledging that some factors are beyond their influence.