Game Week 17 Predictions: Arsenal must beat Brighton

Arsenal vs Brighton: Must-win match for the Gunners, injury updates, and key players to watch.

Arsenal has lost more games at home to Brighton than to anyone else in the last four seasons, the trend must end on Sunday if Arsenal wants to remain in the hunt for the league title. (Photo credit: 90Mins)

 Arsenal vs. Brighton

Emirates Stadium

3:00pm

It’s a game Arsenal has to win; they must take full advantage of Manchester City’s slip at home to Crystal Palace to create a solid buffer for future use. Arsenal can’t afford to lose this game.

Brighton hasn’t been the same this season; the UEFA Europa League has offered the Seagulls some cushion, and they have qualified as group winners, thereby avoiding an unnecessary extra game in February. They can now face the league.

Brighton’s league form of late has been bipolar; one moment they’re winning, and the next they’re losing or settling for a point. The 1-0 win over Olympique Marseille in the continental championship must make them feel good; now they have to focus on league football.

Arsenal’s form ahead of the loss at Aston Villa was great. They had loads of chances to put Aston Villa to the sword, but they passed on each of them. Martin Odegaard will see the game again and wish he had done things differently; he was the biggest culprit on the day.

Arsenal is still second on the log, but with Tottenham winning on Friday and Manchester City dropping two valuable points against the Eagles, Arsenal have enough reasons to win to ensure Tottenham doesn’t come close and to steer clear of the champions who don’t play next week.

Brighton has a few injury worries to attend to, but they have enough players to prosecute games. Roberto Di Zerbi doesn’t have problems trusting kids; he has a functioning system that becomes plug-and-play for anyone who steps on the pitch.

Arsenal’s Thomas Partey is close to a return, but the game against the Seagulls comes too soon for him. The trio of Fabio Vieira, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Mohammed Elneny have all joined Jurien Timber on the treatment table; however, Emile Smith Rowe had a run in the Champions League and is available.

Brighton will remain fearless regardless of the opposition or the scoreline. The Seagulls don’t know when they’re getting the stick, and their game is never over until the referee blows the final whistle, picks up the ball, and walks off the pitch.

Watch out for Simon Adingra and Kaoru Mitoma. Di Zerbi has warned that he needs to manage the minutes for the Japanese winger, but this is a game he is likely to thrive in. It used to be Evan Ferguson or Joao Pedro, but recently Brighton has shown that they can coexist; it would be fun to watch on Sunday.

Verdict: Arsenal to win