Key events
Changes aplenty for both teams, with Brighton making five in the wake of their dull 0-0 draw at Brentford. Danny Welbeck, Tariq Lamptey, Pervis Estupinan, Julio Enciso and Jakub Moder take the places of Joao Pedro, Adam Lallana, Joel Veltman, Igor and Facundo Buonanotte, who all drop to the bench.
Arsenal meanwhile swap out four players after their easy 2-0 win over Luton. Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Jorginho and Gabriel Jesus return; Thomas Partey, Emile Smith Rowe and Leandro Trossard drop to the bench, while Reiss Nelson misses out altogether this time.
The teams
Brighton & Hove Albion: Verbruggen, Lamptey, van Hecke, Dunk, Estupinan, Baleba, Moder, Enciso, Gross, Adingra, Welbeck.
Subs: Igor, Joao Pedro, Lallana, Barco, Steele, Fati, Veltman, Buonanotte, Peupion.
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice, Saka, Havertz, Gabriel Jesus.
Subs: Ramsdale, Partey, Smith Rowe, Martinelli, Nketiah, Kiwior, Tomiyasu, Trossard, Vieira.
Referee: John Brooks (Leicestershire).
ð¡ ð§ððð ðððð ðµ
âï¸ Jorginho in the middle
â¡ï¸ Jesus on the wing
ð Saka returnsLet’s keep raising the bar, Gunners ð pic.twitter.com/AtVVkl5M8A
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 6, 2024
Preamble
Arsenalâs relationship with Brighton & Hove Albion is stranger than you might think for clubs of their relative size. The Gunners (est 1886) have won 31 major trophies in their time; Brighton (est 1901) are still stuck on nil. But over the years, their head-to-head in the league is surprisingly close: Arsenal are on ten wins, Brighton not too far behind on seven.
Thereâs no point looking to recent form for pointers either. Arsenal may have beaten Brighton 2-0 at the Emirates in December, but the Seagulls won on their previous three visits to N5. Conversely, Arsenal stuffed Brighton at the Amex 4-2 last season, and are on a three-game unbeaten run down Falmer way. So with Mikel Artetaâs men after the title, and Roberto De Zerbiâs folk chasing another European dream, the manner of tonightâs events are anyoneâs guess. Kick-off is at 5.30pm. Itâs on!
