As Arsenal prepare to face Brighton on Saturday, the Gunners find themselves in a precarious position in the Premier League title race, with little room for error. With leaders Liverpool holding a six-point lead and having played a game more, any mistake could prove fatal for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Historically, Brighton have been tough opponents for Arsenal, with the Gunners only managing to win in four of their last eight meetings in all competitions. The Seagulls, despite their own struggles, will be keen to turn things around.
Brighton are going through a difficult period, having not won a Premier League game for seven consecutive games. This rout dropped them to 10th place in the standings, causing concern among their supporters.
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For Arsenal, the season has been a real rollercoaster, punctuated by obstacles. However, they have shown resilience in recent weeks, stringing together four consecutive victories. Impressively, even in the absence of injured influencer Bukayo Saka, Arsenal scored 12 goals during this winning streak, demonstrating the depth of their squad.
In contrast, Brighton have struggled to find a balance between their offensive and defensive performances, having failed to score against Brentford while conceding three goals against Crystal Palace in their last outings.
Despite their tendency to be punished for small mistakes, Arsenal’s defensive statistics reveal a strong underlying performance. Although they have failed to keep a clean sheet on the road since the north London derby in mid-September, one can hope that trend changes soon. In their last match against Brentford, they conceded an early goal but limited their opponents to just five strikes, totaling an expected goals (xG) value of 0.32. Likewise, against Fulham they drew 1-1 despite conceding just two strikes for an xG of 0.16.
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Goalkeeper David Raya will need to raise his game to help Arsenal replicate their formidable home performances when they play away to the Emirates. The focus will also be on Kai Havertz, who was supposed to strengthen Arsenal’s attack against Brentford but had to withdraw due to a virus. Gabriel Jesus, meanwhile, is in great form after scoring recently; however, its long-term regularity remains uncertain.
Interestingly, Havertz has found the net in his last two league appearances, both playing alongside Jesus as the main striker. With 11 strikes for an xG of 3.54 in his last five matches and significant assist contributions, he remains a central figure in Arsenal’s attack.
This encounter promises to be a fascinating battle as Arsenal aim to keep the pressure on at the top of the table while Brighton look to end their winless run.
