Arsenal vs Brighton Preview, prediction, lineups, betting tips & odds | Premier League 2025-26

Arsenal have 39 points from 17 games, while Brighton have 24 points from 17 games.

Arsenal are sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League table. They are getting ready to host Brighton & Hove Albion at the Emirates Stadium this Saturday, December 27.

Mikel Arteta’s side comes into this game full of confidence. This follows a hard-fought 1-0 win over Everton. In that match, Viktor Gyokeres bagged all three points with a clinical first-half penalty.

The Gunners also showed plenty of grit earlier this week. They knocked out Crystal Palace in a tight Carabao Cup quarter-final shootout. This busy schedule is a real test of fitness for the squad. However, their recent form suggests they have enough quality in the ranks to keep their title push going.

On the flip side, Brighton head to North London looking to fix a shaky December under Fabian Hurzeler. The Seagulls recently stumbled to a 0-0 draw against Sunderland. That game showed just how much they miss the injured Danny Welbeck up front. Because of this, Hurzeler has to find a new way for his attack to break down an Arsenal defence that has been a brick wall at home all season.

The visitors are in ninth place and can be hard to predict. Even so, Arsenal’s incredible home form makes them the clear favourites to stay top of the pile. Still, Brighton often play their best football when they are the underdogs.

The hosts need to stay sharp to avoid a slip-up right after Christmas. This is a massive chance for Arsenal to tighten their grip on first place before the year is out.

Kick-off:

• Location: London, England
• Stadium: Emirates Stadium
• Date: Saturday, December 27
• Kick-off Time: 8:30 PM IST
• Referee: John Brooks
• VAR: In use

Form:

Arsenal (all competitions): D-W-W-W-L

Brighton (all competitions): D-L-D-L-W

Players to Watch:

Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal):

Viktor Gyokeres is the man to watch at the heart of the Arsenal attack. He has already netted five goals in 15 Premier League starts this season. That cool-headed penalty against Everton is exactly the kind of finishing Mikel Arteta expects from his main man.

The Swedish striker also uses his power to bully defenders. This opens up plenty of room for the midfielders behind him. Keep an eye on how he moves in the box; he is great at outmuscling defenders to get a shot away.

Yankuba Minteh (Brighton & Hove Albion):

Yankuba Minteh is Brighton’s biggest threat on the break. He has picked up four assists and a goal in 17 league games so far. The Gambian winger has explosive pace that can really hurt teams playing a high line, which is huge since Danny Welbeck is out. His directness forces defenders to backpedal, which usually creates space for teammates charging in from midfield.

Match Facts:

• The Gunners haven’t let much slip at home lately. They have only let in three goals at the Emirates all season. This is exactly why most people see them as the title favourites heading into January.
• Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton side are in a bit of a rut, going four games without a win in the league. Even worse, they haven’t managed to score in their last two games against Liverpool and Sunderland.
• Mikel Arteta is looking for his second win over the Seagulls this term. His side cruised to a 2-0 win back in October during their Carabao Cup tie, thanks to goals from Ethan Nwaneri and Bukayo Saka.

Arsenal vs Brighton & Hove Albion Betting Tips and Odds:

• Arsenal to Win to Nil: 2.10 as per Bet365.
• Under 2.5 Goals: 2.25 as per SkyBet.
• Viktor Gyokeres to Score Anytime: 2.40 as per Betway.

Injuries and Team News:

The latest team news shows both managers have some big calls to make. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is definitely missing Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera. Hamstring and ankle problems are expected to keep both defenders out until the middle of January.

Youngster Max Dowman is also out with an ankle injury. He is not expected back until February. There are also question marks over Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz, who are both nursing knocks. On a brighter note, Gabriel should be back in a few days.

Brighton’s injury list is also looking quite long. Carlos Baleba is unavailable as he is away on international duty. The Seagulls will also be without Adam Webster and Solly March, who are both recovering from knee surgery and hoping for a January return.

Stefanos Tzimas is a long-term absentee with a cruciate injury and will not be back until August. On top of that, Fabian Hurzeler is waiting to see if Jan Paul van Hecke and Danny Welbeck will be fit in time.

Head-To-Head stats:

• Total Competitive Meetings: 33
• Arsenal Wins: 18
• Brighton Wins: 8
• Draws: 7

Predicted Starting Lineups:

Arsenal (4-3-3):

David Raya; Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Piero Hincapie, Riccardo Calafiori; Martin Odegaard, Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice; Bukayo Saka, Viktor Gyokeres, Leandro Trossard

Brighton (4-2-3-1):

Bart Verbruggen; Joel Veltman, Lewis Dunk, Olivier Boscagli, Ferdi Kadioglu; Yasin Ayari, Diego Gomez; Yankuba Minteh, Brajan Gruda, Kaoru Mitoma; Georginio Rutter

Match Prediction:

Arsenal look ready to get the job done this weekend. Their home form is just too strong for a Brighton side that is currently struggling to find the back of the net. The Seagulls do not seem to have the firepower to crack a disciplined Arsenal defence, especially with so many key players on the injury list.

Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Brighton.

Telecast Details:

India: JioHotstar, Star Sports Network

UK: TNT Sports and Sky Sports

USA: NBC Sports

Nigeria: SuperSport

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