Arsenal without key defender against Brighton as Gunners look to close gap to Liverpool – kick-off time, predicted line-ups and how to follow
01/02/2025 09:54 AM
Arsenal will be aiming to close the gap to Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table when they take on Brighton this Saturday evening.
The Gunners haven't lost in 12 games in all competitions, but they're still six points behind the league leaders at the halfway point of the season.
It means Mikel Arteta's side are reliant on some slip-ups from the Reds while also keeping up their winning form every week.
They will be hopeful of getting a result at the Amex to put some pressure on Arne Slot's men, with Brighton struggling.
The Seagulls have drawn their last three games and haven't won in seven, leaving Fabian Hurzeler with a problem he needs to fix.
Brighton vs Arsenal: Predicted line-ups
Brighton rotated away at Aston Villa last time out meaning some key players are expected to return to the starting line-up this weekend.
Kaoru Mitoma should come back in along with Georginio Rutter, with Brajan Gruda and Julio Enciso potentially sitting out.
Joao Pedro will lead the line still, as Danny Welbeck and Evan Ferguson are injured, while Simon Adingra and Yankuba Minteh will compete for a spot out wide.
In midfield, Carlos Baleba has broken out as a star and he's likely to be partnered by Matt O'Riley who replaced Yasin Ayari at Villa Park.
Mats Wieffer and Adam Webster may be fit to feature in some way, but James Milner and Ferdi Kadioglu will stay on the sidelines.
Lewis Dunk and Jan Paul van Hecke will be at centre-back and Pervis Estupinan may return at left-back, with Tariq Lamptey or Joel Veltman on the right.
Of course, Seagulls No.1 Bart Verbruggen will be in goal.
- No side won more points in the Premier League in 2024 than Arsenal (85). Their 26 wins were their most in one year since 2004 (also 26), their 89 goals were their most since 1963 (112) and their 18 clean sheets were their most since 1999 (19).
- Brighton and Hove Albion have drawn their last three Premier League games and are winless in seven (D5 L2). The Seagulls haven't drawn four league games in a row since October 2014 in the Championship under Sami Hyypia.
As for Arsenal, they will be missing a key defender in Jurrien Timber.
Timber picked up his fifth yellow card of the season last time out and it means he will now be serving a one-game suspension.
Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are out injured too, so therefore Thomas Partey may have to move into an unfamiliar role to cover at right-back.
He'll join a back four of William Saliba, Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori, with Jorginho coming into a deeper midfield role.
Declan Rice is carrying a slight knock and Arteta may not want to risk starting him.
Mikel Merino impressed against Brentford and he should keep his place next to Martin Odegaard while Ethan Nwaneri was impressive as well.
However, the teenager is likely to drop back out of the team for Leandro Trossard, with the in-form Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli keeping their places.
Kai Havertz missed the last game through illness and may struggle with a quick turnaround while Bukayo Saka remains out injured.
- Having been unbeaten in five consecutive home league games against Arsenal between 1982 and 2020 (W4 D1), Brighton have now lost three of their last four against the Gunners (D1).
- Arsenal have won three of their last five Premier League games against Brighton (D1 L1), as many as they had in their first 10 against the Seagulls in the competition (D3 L4).
- Brighton haven't lost their first league game in any of the last eight calendar years (W3 D5), since a 1-0 home loss to Wolves on New Year's Day 2016 in the Championship.
Brighton vs Arsenal: What has been said?
This will be Arsenal's second game of nine in their January schedule and Arteta has been speaking about the fitness of his squad.
Following this Brighton game, cup clashes against Newcastle and Man United are next, while the Champions League returns soon too.
With injuries littered throughout the Gunners squad, the busy fixture list could start to impact their results and potential success.
After being asked whether his team is stretched, Arteta said: "When I see the willingness of each individual to play through anything and the versatility that we can create within our idea, the answer is no.
"But we don't know, if something else happens, then would have more issues but hopefully not.
"Hopefully people are coming back, like Riccy [Calafiori], he was back and other players that are there are in top form as well, we need everybody."
- Kai Havertz has scored in each of his last four Premier League games against Brighton, netting in all three against the Seagulls so far for Arsenal.
- Since the start of last season, João Pedro has more Premier League goals and assists combined than any other Brighton player (13 goals, 8 assists) – his 13 goals are the most, while his eight assists are bettered only by the now departed Pascal Groß (10).
- In their first 19 Premier League games under Fabian Hürzeler, Brighton have drawn nine times (W6 L4). Only three managers have drawn 10 of their first 20 games in the Premier League – John Lyall in 1992 (11), John Deehan in 1994 (10) and Egil Olsen in 1999 (10).
Brighton vs Arsenal: How to follow
This Premier League clash will take place on Saturday, January 4.
Kick-off at the Amex Stadium is scheduled for 5:30pm.
The game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.
Existing customers can watch coverage on TV while fans can sign up to Sky Sports here or sign up for a NOW TV membership here.
talkSPORT will also keep you up to date with all the latest.
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
talkSPORT.com will provide you with regular updates on the action too, in our dedicated Premier League live blog here.
