Chris Sutton predicts Arsenal to make one big change from their defeat at Aston Villa when Mikel Arteta’s side plays host to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League.
The Seagulls travel to Emirates Stadium on Sunday as both teams strive to return to winning ways in the Premier League. Arsenal lost 1-0 away to Aston Villa last week after Burnley had held Brighton to a 1-1 draw. The results kept a 10-point gap between this week’s opponents.
Arsenal enter the weekend sitting second in the standings with 36 points from 16 games. On the south coast, meanwhile, Brighton have claimed 26 points in the Premier League so far to rank in eighth place. The teams have won 11 and seven of their fixtures to date respectively.
Chris Sutton issues his prediction for Arsenal vs Brighton & Hove Albion
But Sutton predicts Arsenal to hit 12 wins for the campaign when Arteta welcomes Brighton to north London. The Celtic hero expects the Seagulls will struggle after beating Marseille in the Europa League on Thursday. Joao Pedro sealed his side their 1-0 win in the 88th minute.
Arsenal were also in UEFA action on Tuesday night as they drew 1-1 at PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League. But Arteta rotated his team in the Netherlands with their match a dead rubber for both sides. Now, Sutton tips Brighton to struggle as Arsenal look to bounce back.
Sutton explained in his predictions column for BBC Sport: “The bottom line is that Brighton play in the Europa League on Thursday evening, which makes this trip even harder for them when going to Emirates Stadium is difficult enough anyway.
“Arsenal will feel hard done by after their defeat at Aston Villa. They created enough chances to win that game and, with Brighton leaking goals the way they are, I can see them doing the same here. Only this time, they will take them.”
The Seagulls have won their last three visits to Emirates Stadium
Arteta will be desperate for Arsenal to make the big change against Brighton Sutton predicts after their defeat at Aston Villa. The Gunners took 12 shots at Villa Park, per WhoScored, but only directed five on target. Martin Odegaard also spurned possibly their best chance to net.
Odegaard, arguably, had the goal at his mercy in the 58th minute when Kai Havertz lifted his cross into the box. But the Arsenal captain could not bury the chance he so often takes and sent the strike wide. It was the type of chance Arsenal cannot afford to waste in a title fight.
Arsenal will know they cannot afford to waste those types of openings at home to Brighton on Sunday, as well. Arteta has only beaten the Seagulls once through their past five fixtures across all competitions. The Amex Stadium outfit also won 3-0 at the Emirates back in May.
So, while Sutton expects Brighton to find it tough at Emirates Stadium, the Seagulls will still be confident of causing another upset at Arsenal. Their 3-0 win last season took Brighton to three-straight wins over Arsenal away in north London within the space of only 13 months.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
