Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the English Premier League match.
Both clubs recently triumphed against strong competitors in the race for a Champions League spot. Brighton now have the chance to become the first team to breach Arsenal's defence this season.
Arsenal
Arsenal have yet to drop points or concede a goal. In their match against Aston Villa, the first goal should have gone in, but David Raya's outstanding reflexes produced a save. Only after this did Arsenal open the scoring, and they needed less xG to secure the win (0.87-1.28). It's likely they'll have to face Brighton without Gabriel Jesus, who remains sidelined with a groyne issue. However, the London side boast an impressive array of attacking talent, notably Bukayo Saka, who has scored 1+2 in two rounds.
Brighton
Brighton made the most of their opportunities against Manchester United. In the first half, the team not only withstood pressure but also scored on one of their few attacks. Their winning goal in the 95th minute was no fluke; it was well-deserved. João Pedro was left unmarked, with five metres of space around him. With 14 shots (5 on target) and 2.09 xG resulting in 2 goals, their performance was nearly perfect. During the week, Brighton played a League Cup match against Crawley, but this shouldn't affect their form as their coaching staff completely rotated the squad, which was sufficient for a comprehensive victory.
Arsenal - Brighton Prediction
In head-to-head meetings, Arsenal have the edge: over the past two seasons, they have won three out of four matches against Brighton, scoring at least two goals in each victory. Their sole setback came in May 2023 (0:3), but judging by the current form of Arsenal, only extraordinary bad luck could derail them. In 63% of encounters between these sides, more than 2.5 goals have been scored, so the likelihood of a high-scoring game and a home win or draw is very high.
