Brighton lineup vs. Arsenal: Predicted XI for Premier League clash as Danny Welbeck decision made
Brighton and Hove Albion travel to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon to face Premier League leaders Arsenal in a bid to halt a recent decline in away results.
The Seagulls are winless in their last four league matches, their longest run without a win since a five-game run between March and April last season.
However, that run includes just two defeats in their last eight Premier League outings, although they are now approaching a full month without claiming all three points.
Their most recent appearance ended in a goalless draw against Sunderland at the Amex Stadium, a result which reinforced Brighton’s growing familiarity with stalemates; no team has recorded more 0-0 draws in the Premier League since promotion in 2017.
This match also highlighted Brighton’s slow starts in front of goal: they have now failed to score before half-time in 12 of their 17 league matches this season, the highest total in the division, despite consecutive games without a goal, the Seagulls have not gone three league matches without finding the net since January 2024.
Encouragingly, they have taken points on every previous Premier League visit to the Emirates in which they have scored, winning three times and drawing twice.
Manager Fabian Hurzeler will hope to receive a timely boost, with Danny Welbeck and Jan Paul van Hecke both pushing to return after missing the Sunderland draw, while captain Lewis Dunk and Diego Gomez are available again after suspensions, and Mats Wieffer will be assessed closer to kick-off.
Despite this, Brighton continue to face an overloaded squad – Stefanos Tzimas and Adam Webster remain sidelined with long-term ACL injuries, Solly March is still fully fit and Carlos Baleba is unavailable due to his involvement with Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Possible Brighton starting line-up:
Verbruggen; Wieffer, Veltman, Dunk, Kadioglu; Ayari, Gomez, Gruda; Mitoma, Rutter, Minteh
> Click here to see how Arsenal could line up on Saturday