Arsenal v Brighton preview


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Arsenal v Brighton preview 


By Oscar Maung-Haley


A recent upturn in form sees Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal travel to the Amex to face Brighton on Saturday evening. 
The Seagulls are enjoying an excellent start to the Premier League season, with Graham Potter’s men sitting sixth after winning four of their opening six games. 
Can Arsenal extend their Premier League winning streak to four on the bounce and send the entire Gunners fanbase into a positivity meltdown? 

Four wins, Mikel? Four? That’s insane. 

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You read that correctly. Arsenal have the chance to make it four Premier League wins on the spin when they take on Brighton on Saturday. 
What a turnaround it’s been for Arteta’s men, who prior to the 1-0 win over Norwich, shipped nine goals in three Premier League games. 
Following the win over Norwich, Arsenal pulled off a 1-0 win over Burnley thanks to a Martin Odegaard free-kick stunner, which was then followed up with a 3-1 derby day win over Tottenham Hotspur. 
Defensively, the Gunners finally look solid. They’re not 100% there just yet but they’re heading in the right direction. 
Aaron Ramsdale has performed admirably. Ben White and Gabriel have the makings of an excellent centre-half pairing. Takehiro Tomiyasu has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water and Kieran Tierney is back to his attacking best. 
Arsenal finally look like they have defensive unit that looks solid and versatile. 
Their efforts will be vital against an outfit like Brighton who have no problem’s creating chances. 

Be wary of mischievous Maupay 

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Cast your minds back to the late spring of 2020. Football was back following an enforced break due to COVID-19 and project restart was in full flow. 
With almost the very last kick of the game, Brighton forward Neal Maupay’s audacious chip over then Arsenal keeper Emi Martinez gifted the Seagulls an almost improbable 2-1 win. 
It prompted Maupay to dole out some home truths, with the Frenchman stating after the match that “Arsenal players need to learn humility.” 
He’s a bit of a wind-up merchant is Neal. 
And the 25-year-old’s wind-up skills were on full display in the recent M23 derby between Brighton and Crystal Palace after he netted a 95th minute equaliser. 
While he might always be looking to frustrate and anger the opposition, Maupay must be respected. 
He has started the season in good form, scoring four goals in his opening six Premier League games.
If Arsenal are to continue their impressive run of form, they must keep Maupay in check – otherwise it could be a frustrating evening on the south coast. 

Trust the kids 

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The North London derby day win over Spurs was big for a number of reasons. 
But the biggest positive of all perhaps was seeing Arsenal trust their young stars and them then producing a wonderful performance. 
Everyone bar Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey who started against Spurs were under the age of 25. 
It might have been a rocky start to the season, but Arsenal seem to be riding the crest of a wave right now, which definitely seems to have coincided with the impressive play of the likes of Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Odegaard. 
Life feels positive at the Emirates all of a sudden. 
A draw against Brighton would not be the end of the world. But another win, in the same mould as the 3-1 win over Spurs, would be the perfect way to sign off before the October internationals. 
PHOTO CREDITS: GETTY IMAGES 

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