- Date and Time: Saturday, January 4, 2025, 18:30 GMT+1
- Venue: American Express Stadium, Falmer, England
| Odds via 22bet | |
| Brighton Hove & Albion vs Arsenal | Saturday, 4 January, 2025, 18:30 GMT+1 |
| Brighton Hove & Albion odds | 4.1 |
| Arsenal odds | 1.816 |
| Draw | 3.86 |
| Over\Under | Total 2,5: 1.715/2.25 |
Brighton Hove & Albion vs Arsenal Preview
Brighton Hove & Albion
Brighton ended the 2024 calendar year in disastrous form, remaining winless throughout December. Their last victory was a 2-1 win against Bournemouth in late November, meaning no wins in their last seven matches. They managed draws against last-placed Southampton and West Ham, both of whom endured famously disappointing seasons.
Brighton are currently ranked 10th in the Premier League, with 27 points from 19 matches. There have been a few highlights this season, including a 2-1 victory over Manchester City and wins against Tottenham and Newcastle.
Our year starts against Arsenal at The Amex. 👊 pic.twitter.com/tj9yI8n6Ld
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) January 2, 2025
Head coach Fabian Hürzeler confirmed in a press conference that Adam Webster has recovered in time for the match against Arsenal. Ferdi Kadıoğlu remains sidelined, while Pervis Estupiñán’s illness casts doubt on his availability for the game.
Hürzeler addressed Brighton’s winless run, claiming, ‘Despite some bad results, we had some outstanding performances.’ He added, ‘There are few teams in the league who have lost fewer games than us,’ concluding optimistically, ‘The glass will be really full one day.’
| Recent Form | DLDDD |
| Key Player to Watch | Tariq Lamptey |
| Team Strengths | Talented academy, strong transitions, team balance and coherence between profiles |
| Team Weaknesses | Lack of defensive certainty, missing Ferguson at the top, lack of stability in the starting XI |
| Key injuries and suspensions. | Adam Webster, Ferdi Kadıoğlu, Joël Veltman, Jack Hinshelwood, James Milner, Danny Welbeck, Pervis Estupiñán, |
Arsenal
Arsenal currently sit second in the Premier League, six points behind leaders Liverpool, who also have a game in hand. The Gunners have only been defeated twice in the league this season: 2-0 to Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth and 1-0 to Newcastle.
Arsenal secured a 3-1 victory over Brentford, a match notable for the absence of superstar Bukayo Saka. Mikel Arteta deployed Ethan Nwaneri in a similar role, and the young talent exceeded expectations. At just 17 years old, Nwaneri impressed fans by completing all his passes as the only forward to do so during the match.
Odegaard x Nwaneri 🪄 pic.twitter.com/t9N9zlfd2q
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 2, 2025
On reflection, Arteta acknowledged that trailing early made things difficult. However, he expressed satisfaction with the team’s effort and their patience in turning the game around.
| Recent Form | DWWWW |
| Key Player to Watch | Kai Havertz |
| Team Strengths | Strong individual talent, diversity in the team’s attacking patterns, solid defence |
| Team Weaknesses | Lack of squad depth, overreliance on defensive solidity |
| Key injuries and suspensions. | Oleksandr Zinchenko, Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Bukayo Saka |
Brighton Hove & Albion vs Arsenal Head-to-Head Statistics
The two teams have faced each other on 18 occasions, with 6 matches ending in Brighton’s favour. Arsenal won 8 times, with 4 games ending in a draw.
The last match was in late August and ended in a 1-1 draw. Kai Havertz scored in the 38th minute, but João Pedro equalised for the Seagulls twenty minutes later. Declan Rice was sent off after a second yellow card in the 49th minute, leading to Brighton dominating the second half.
Happy memories at home against Arsenal! 🥰 pic.twitter.com/9O8E3xTcMK
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) January 2, 2025
Arsenal’s most recent victory against the Seagulls was back in April, with a win of 3-0. Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz scored, while Bukayo Saka converted the penalty.
Brighton last defeated the Gunners in May 2023, 3-0. Julio Enciso, Deniz Undav and Pervis Estupiñan scored. Arsenal struggled to create high-quality chances.
Bet hereBrighton Hove & Albion vs Arsenal Player Focus
Evan Ferguson’s injury has been a significant issue for Brighton on the offence, as the team have struggled to replace the striker. As the specialist in the penalty box, he was a major goal threat, making it hard to find a replacement. He would have been my first choice, as he was a talent many looked forward to watching this season.
Tariq Lamptey is my choice, registering two goals and two assists in only seven matches. His physical build and pace make him an attractive profile on the wing. He scored a goal against Aston Villa and again against Leicester. Both games ended in draws, which demonstrates how crucial both goals are.
Bart started the move inside our box and Tariq finished it in Villa’s! 😮💨 @MonsterEnergy 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Aw2IG9M30o
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) December 31, 2024
On Arsenal’s side, the most critical player would have been Saka, but he’s expected to miss the match. Kai Havertz comes to mind as the next option, contributing to 7 goals in 17 games, making him the Gunners’ best goalscorer. He only failed to see the net in one match in the last four and scored the winner against Ipswich.
Brighton Hove & Albion vs Arsenal Analysis
Without Saka, Arteta is forced to innovate, as many of his ideas aim to maximise Saka’s output. Ethan played well against Brentford, but Arteta should consider other forwards like Havertz to diversify his team’s attacking patterns.
Brighton’s defence doesn’t have a player to match him in a physical duel, making it an advantage in set pieces (where Arsenal have excelled this season).
Hürzeler insisted his team must play with courage in possession and look for intensity against the Gunners. He added his team has shown that they can beat every team in the league.
Brighton Hove & Albion vs Arsenal Prediction
- Football pick: Arsenal to win
- Odds: 1.816 (22Bet)
- Score prediction: Brighton Hove & Albion 0-2 Arsenal
While the head-to-head record between these teams is pretty even, Arsenal are tipped to win this weekend. Although they’ll be without Saka, Havertz’s presence in the box could be enough to secure a victory.
Brighton’s defensive struggles and lack of confidence will reinforce Arsenal’s chances despite playing at home.
Brighton Hove & Albín vs Arsenal Betting Tip
- Football Pick: Kai Havertz to score
- Odds: 3.25 (22Bet)
As Martinelli has struggled this season, Kai Havertz has become the de facto leader in Bukayo Saka’s absence. If Arteta adjusts his tactics to create more opportunities for Havertz in the box, it would not be surprising to see him on the scoresheet.
He’s 1.93 m tall, making him one of the tallest forwards in the league. Brighton’s defensive vulnerabilities make his task significantly easier.
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