Preview: Arsenal vs Brighton & Hove Albion – stats, team news, line-ups

The Premier League table is set for a thrilling shake-up as Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion prepare to clash at the Emirates Stadium at lunchtime on Saturday.

Both teams enter the match with perfect records, having won their opening two fixtures of the 2024/25 season.

With top spot up for grabs in north London, tickets to the game are expected to be pricey, but Seatsnet.com is the best marketplace for fans keen to secure their place in the stands at the Emirates.

Arsenal have enjoyed a fine start to the season. The Gunners banished their Aston Villa hoodoo in a 2-0 win in the west Midlands last weekend, marking their eighth consecutive Premier League victory.

Goals from Leandro Trossard and Thomas Partey secured the three points for the Gunners and extended their streak that dates back to the previous season.

While Trossard and Partey’s goals were key to securing the victory for Arsenal, the game-defining event arguably came inside the Arsenal box.

David Raya produced some of the best saves in the game to deny, especially one that denied Villa talisman Ollie Watkins’ header from point-blank range.

Thanks to crucial contributions at both ends of the pitch, Arsenal are one of just four sides to take six points from their opening two Premier League games, alongside upcoming opponents Brighton, Liverpool and Manchester City in that exclusive crowd.

The Gunners’ last eight Premier League matches have all ended in victories, and another win on Saturday could see them equal the record for the longest winning streak in the competition since the Invincibles’ historic run in 2003/04.

Mikel Arteta’s prowess as a young manager has been widely recognised, but his counterpart at Brighton, Fabian Hurzeler, is already making a name for himself in the Premier League.

The talented manager, who was just 18 when Arteta joined Arsenal as a player in 2011, has guided the Seagulls to impressive victories over Everton and Manchester United in his opening two games of the Premier League season.

Fresh from a three-goal trouncing of a depleted Everton side, Hurzeler’s Brighton showcased their attacking flair and defensive resilience in their 2-1 win over Man United.

Goals from Former United striker Danny Welbeck and Joao Pedro proved to be the difference, rendering Amad Diallo’s effort for the Red Devils meaningless.

Brighton survived a scare when Joshua Zirkzee’s offside goal briefly threatened their lead, but the Seagulls held on for their second consecutive victory under Hurzeler.

The 31-year-old manager has already overseen a 4-0 EFL Cup triumph over Crawley Town.

However, Brighton will face a stern test in their upcoming away fixtures in north London, having failed to win any of their seven top-flight games in the capital last season.

After three impressive victories in all competitions thus far, Hurzeler will be aiming to lift Brighton’s capital curse and maintain their 100% start to the season.

Brighton’s most recent success over Arsenal at the Emirates was a 3-0 victory back in May last year, although the Gunners have avenged that embarrassment with a pair of victories by a combined 5-0 scoreline.

Match Preview

Arsenal are aiming to extend their winning streak in the Premier League when they face Brighton. The Gunners have a favourable record against the Seagulls, winning three of their last four encounters (L1).

A victory in this match would mark Arsenal’s third consecutive Premier League win to start a season under Arteta, a feat they previously achieved in the 2022/23 campaign.

This would also equal the number of times they’ve won their opening three games in a season before Arteta’s arrival (in 2003-04 and 2004-05 under Arsene Wenger).

Arsenal’s current form has been impressive, with their last defeat coming against Villa in April. The Gunners’ eight-game winning streak is their longest since a nine-game run between January and March 2004.

As the Premier League season heats up, Brighton are looking to continue their impressive start against a familiar foe, Arsenal.

The Seagulls have a decent record at the Emirates Stadium, winning three of their seven away games against the Gunners (D1, L3).

They’re one of just three teams to have won more or as many visits to the Emirates as they’ve lost in the competition, along with Manchester City (W7, L6) and Swansea City (W3, L3).

Last season, Brighton struggled in London, failing to win any of their seven matches against capital sides (D3, L4).

However, their 3-0 victory over Arsenal in May 2023 serves as a reminder of their ability to upset the established order.

For the third time in the past four seasons, Brighton have won each of their opening two Premier League games.

However, not since the 2011/12 campaign in the Championship have the Seagulls managed three consecutive wins to start a new season.

Hurzeler is just the fourth Brighton manager to win his opening two league games in charge, after Alan Mullery (August 1976), Jeff Wood (January 1999) and Micky Adams (April 1999).

Of those managers, the German tactician will be hoping to be the first to win his third game in charge, but he faces a daunting task in overcoming Arsenal at the Emirates.

Team news & potential line-ups

Arsenal have suffered a setback ahead of their Premier League clash with Brighton, as Gabriel Jesus has been ruled out due to a groin injury sustained in training.

The Brazilian striker will miss Saturday’s game at Villa Park but is not expected to be sidelined for an extended period.

Jesus joins a growing list of absentees for Arteta’s side, with Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney also unavailable to face Brighton.

Summer addition Mikel Merino, who arrived from Real Sociedad earlier in the week, is also set to miss the game due to a shoulder fracture suffered in his first training session.

Merino would have likely been on the bench even if fit, as Partey’s impressive performance against Villa could see him retain his starting spot alongside Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard in midfield.

In the attacking department, Leandro Trossard has a strong case to start against his former club, especially with Gabriel Martinelli blowing hot and cold.

Brighton’s summer signing Matt O’Riley also suffered a setback after being forced off just nine minutes into his debut against Crawley due to an ankle injury.

The former Celtic midfielder sustained the injury following a late challenge from Jay Williams

Hurzeler has confirmed that O’Riley needs surgery, so the former Celtic ace will join Solly March on the sidelines, while Brajan Gruda and Mats Wieffer’s will need to pass a late fitness test to feature against Arsenal.

Evan Ferguson returned to the fold in midweek but will likely start the game at the Emirates on the bench, with Welbeck looking to score in three straight Premier League games for the first time in ten years.

Ferdi Kadioglu could also made his debut at left-back against Arsenal, having been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium all summer.

Arsenal potential starting line-up:

(4-3-3): David Raya; Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Jurrien Timber; Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey, Declan Rice; Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard.

Brighton & Hove Albion potential starting line-up:

(4-2-3-1): Jason Steele; Joel Veltman, Lewis Dunk, Jan Paul van Hecke, Ferdi Kadioglu; James Milner, Carlos Baleba; Yankuba Minteh, Joao Pedro, Kaoru Mitoma; Danny Welbeck.