Brighton & Hove Albion started their 2021/22 English Premier League campaign with a bang and they will welcome an Arsenal team that is on an upward trajectory to the Amex Stadium for Saturday evening’s EPL clash.
The Seagulls rescued a point right at the end of the match against Crystal Palace last time out, while Mikel Arteta’s team ran out of the North London derby with Tottenham as 3-1 winners at the Emirates last weekend.
Graham Potter’s Seagulls are already confirmed to be without Adam Webster until after the international break. Meanwhile, Steven Alzate and ex-Arsenal man Danny Welbeck were both forced off with injuries in their recent game against Crystal Palace and are unlikely to play any role here.
However, midfield general Yves Bissouma, who was reportedly a summer target for Arsenal should be fit enough to start, while Zambian midfielder Enock Mwepu should also shake off his groin issue in time.
Alexis Mac Allister and Aaron Connolly will fight it out to support Neal Maupay in Brighton’s forward line should Welbeck not make the cut, while Joël Veltman should keep his spot at right-back over Tariq Lamptey after a fantastic last match.
Arsenal welcomed Granit Xhaka back from his suspension for the game against Spurs, but the defensive midfielder suffered a ‘significant’ knee injury late in the game and is now facing roughly 3 months out.
Albert Sambi Lokonga is the most likely man to play alongside Thomas Partey for the rest of the calendar year, but Arteta otherwise has no injury worries and no reason to change a winning formula.
Aaron Ramsdale produced a fantastic save in the dying moments last weekend to justify Arteta’s faith in him, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang appears to have found his confidence with 5 goals from his last 5 games.
Our prediction is 1-0 to Arsenal. They will probably have just a bit too much for the Seagulls.
