Arsenal are top-of-the-line groups within the Premier League, with ample high quality to capitalise on Manchester City‘s downfall and clinch their first title in twenty years.
Nevertheless, accidents have been a key think about stuttered outcomes this time period, and with Liverpool flying so excessive on the prime of the desk, Mikel Arteta is aware of that an emphatic run of type must be maintained all through the brand new yr.
In equity, the Gunners began with a bang on New Yr’s Day, dispatching Brentford in their very own yard to maneuver inside six factors of the league leaders, and now, in opposition to Brighton & Hove Albion, Arsenal want to increase a profitable run on the highway.
Brighton began on robust footing below 31-year-old supervisor Fabian Hürzeler however have did not win any of their previous seven matches, falling into tenth place, 12 factors away from Arsenal.
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Arsenal – Current Report vs Brighton |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Season |
Competitors |
Consequence |
|
24/25 |
Premier League (H) |
1-1 draw |
|
23/24 |
Premier League (A) |
3-0 win |
|
23/24 |
Premier League (H) |
2-0 win |
|
22/23 |
Premier League (H) |
3-0 loss |
|
22/23 |
Premier League (A) |
4-2 win |
|
Stats through Transfermarkt |
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Arsenal might need numerous key absences, however Arteta might be assured that his facet can construct on their promising run of type in opposition to the Seagulls, dropping one in every of their previous 5 matches in all competitions and avoiding defeat in every of their earlier 4 visits to the AMEX.
Arsenal group information
Jurrien Timber joins his teammates on the sidelines as he serves a one-match ban, that means that Thomas Partey will most likely return to right-back as Ben White works towards a comeback from harm at the end of January.
Additional up the pitch, Kai Havertz might be trying to restore his beginning presence within the group after overcoming sickness, although Bukayo Saka is in fact nonetheless out for an prolonged interval.
Raheem Sterling and Takehiro Tomiyasu are additionally out in an additional weakening blow to Arsenal’s right-hand facet.
Many followers will hope to see Ethan Nwaneri enjoying from the outset after his spectacular begin on the Gtech on Wednesday, however the 17-year-old could also be higher off coming into the fray after the interval. This is why.
Why Arteta ought to drop Ethan Nwaneri
Arsenal have a little bit of a behavior of manufacturing starboys, with Saka establishing himself as one in every of Europe’s finest forwards below Arteta’s wing and posting nine goals and 13 assists throughout 24 matches this time period.
Saka, 23, has been a deal with for the Emirates crowds for a number of years now, however in Nwaneri, Arsenal might need a expertise able to rising simply as excessive.
Described as an “absolute diamond” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Nwaneri made his first Premier League begin in Saka’s stead at Brentford, impressing together with his silky passing, vitality and progressiveness, notably making two key passes and finishing two of his three tried dribbles, as per Sofascore.
Nevertheless, Arteta wants a medical edge in opposition to a Brighton facet that’s inclined to a poor piece of defending, largely attributable to being stretched by their very own expansive model of soccer.
Saka’s absence heightens the necessity for added efficiency, and although Gabriel Martinelli and the in-form Gabriel Jesus bagged final trip, it may be smart to unleash Leandro Trossard for this one.
Leandro Trossard might ship Brighton packing
Trossard has been a shrewd signing certainly over on the Emirates, scoring 22 goals and assisting 15 more throughout 94 appearances for Arsenal, solely beginning 50 of these matches.
As per Understat, Brighton are underperforming their objective concession charge by 2.49, that means that their considerably shaky backline are literally conserving out extra objectives than has been anticipated from the alternatives offered to their opponents.
This calls for somebody like Trossard, who can ease Jesus’ burden at quantity 9 and guarantee he performs freely seeking objectives but additionally essential link-up connections.
As per FBref, the Belgian ranks among the many prime 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers throughout Europe’s prime 5 leagues over the previous yr for objectives scored (0.53) per 90, suggesting that his talent set might certainly be the key recipe for achievement on the South Coast.
Trossard won’t have been within the most interesting type not too long ago, with solely one goal scored across his past 13 Premier League matches, however there is not any denying his enduring ball-striking capacity, nonetheless solely missing three big chances this year having scored three objectives, creating six huge possibilities furthermore.
Final season, journalist Sam Dean waxed lyrical concerning the 29-year-old’s natural-born goalscoring edge, saying: “Leandro Trossard might not be Arsenal’s most skilful, fast or highly effective ahead. However he’s their most threatening.”
As beforehand said, there’s additionally the matter of Nwaneri approaching and influencing the play from a bit deeper, carrying ahead with electrical energy and threading balls ahead to, say, Trossard to latch onto and poo into the underside nook.
Arteta might be reluctant to drop Martinelli after his current enhancements, tentative although they could be, whereas Jesus is in impressed displaying proper now and it could be ludicrous to drag the identical objective menace out of the facet – particularly in Saka’s continued absence.
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Nwaneri should be eased into the facet, not overburdened and allowed to foster his precocious qualities as he works towards Premier League stardom.
Trossard is the person for the job in opposition to his former membership…
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