Best Odds: 5/4
Bookmaker: Unibet
Desperate to build off of their Boxing Day success over the weekend, Arsenal will make the trip to the Amex on Tuesday evening when they face off against a struggling Brighton.
Brighton
Starting with the hosts, while Brighton might have taken the lead twice away at a lackluster West Ham over the weekend, it was another disappointing afternoon for the Seagulls. Eventually settling for a late 2-2 draw in East London, Graham Potter’s side still find themselves firmly looking over their shoulder at the drop zone. With some around the South Coast even questioning the former Swansea bosses position in the Amex dugout, Brighton have drawn their last three Premier League contests on the bounce, dropping points against the Hammers, Fulham, and a rock-bottom Sheffield United. Holding just a two-point buffer from dropping into the bottom-three, Tuesday’s hosts have remarkably managed to win just one of their last 14 matchups across all competitions, a run that stems all the way back to September 23rd. Continuing on from last season’s interrupted campaign, Potter will have a huge headache over his side’s glaring issues on home soil. Still yet to record a single Premier League win at the Amex so far this season, Brighton have not won a contest at the Amex since that 2-1 win against Arsenal after the restart.
Team News
Brighton will again be without Tariq Lamptey as he struggles with an ongoing hamstring issue.
Adam Lallana was substituted at West Ham with a groin injury and is being assessed, along with Aaron Connolly.
Arsenal
As for the visitors, while Arsenal might have broken a string of unwanted records so far this season, there is no doubt that the Gunners will be boosted by a stunning display on Boxing Day. Despite being seen as a real underdog as they welcomed crosstown rivals Chelsea to the Emirates over the weekend, Mikel Arteta’s side managed to find themselves a real boost on home soil. Eventually claiming a 3-1 win over the Blues, Pep Guardiola’s former right-hand man will be desperate for his side to keep up that momentum and secure back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time since the middle of September. Electing to hand youth a chance to shine over the weekend, fans around North London will now be hoping for their side to find some stability on the road. Including that derby day defeat away at Spurs earlier in the month, Arsenal have collected just a single point from their last three top-flight contests away from the Emirates. Despite smelling a chance to make up some ground at the Amex in midweek, it should be noted that Arsenal did suffer shock back-to-back defeats against the Seagulls last season.
Team News
Arsenal youngsters Emile Smith Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli could make their second starts of the season after impressing on Boxing Day.
Thomas Partey remains sidelined, while Gabriel is self-isolating due to coronavirus tracing.
Key Factors to Consider
- Including a 2-1 loss after the restart, Arsenal suffered back-to-back Premier League defeats against Brighton last season.
- In fact, the Seagulls are remarkably unbeaten in each of their last five straight meetings against the Gunners, collecting three wins and a pair of draws.
- However, Tuesday’s hosts have managed to win just one of their previous 14 straight matchups across all formats, a run that stems back to September 23rd.
- Managing to pick up an eye-catching 3-1 win against Chelsea on Boxing Day, Arsenal brought an end to their seven-match Premier League winless run.
- Arsenal netted more than once during the first half of a Premier League game for the first time this season, leading by at least two goals at the interval for the first time since a 3-2 victory over Watford in July.
Conclusion
Although Arsenal might hold what is a shock winless run against the Seagulls, including those back-to-back defeats last season, the Gunners should be smelling a chance on Tuesday evening. With Brighton eventually having to settle for a late 2-2 draw against a lackluster West Ham over the weekend, Graham Potter’s side are still looking over their shoulder at the drop zone and have remarkably won just one matchup across all formats since September 23rd. With Mikel Arteta watching his side land a stunning 3-1 romp against Chelsea on Boxing Day, Arsenal will be desperate to build off of that result on the South Coast. In a contest that could still see chances at both ends of the pitch, we’re backing the Gunners to end their away day blip at the Amex.
Verdict: Arsenal win
Best Odds: 5/4
Bookmaker: Unibet
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