Arsenal vs Brighton Prediction & Betting Tips (27 December)

In search of a first English championship title since the 2003-2004 season, Arsenal are on the right track to win the holy grail but the road is still long. Because if they are still at the top of the standings, the Londoners only have a 2-point lead over a Manchester City team chasing them. Weighed down by a defeat suffered at the very end of the match against Aston Villa 2-1, the Gunners were able to resume their march forward by winning against Wolverhampton 2-1 and against Everton 0-1 last weekend. This week, Mikel Arteta's men, who are also at the top of the Champions League league stage with 6 wins in 6 matches, will try to secure their place in the last four of the League Cup against Crystal Palace. Opposite, Brighton obviously cannot aim for the top of the standings this year but this team still has some ambitions for this second part of the upcoming season.

Installed in 9th position in the ranking, Fabian Hurzeler's players are 5 points behind the European top 5. That said, the Seagulls will have to recover after having gone 4 games without the slightest victory. Dominated by Aston Villa 3-4 then held to a draw at home by West Ham 1-1, Brighton then lost to Liverpool 2-0 before settling for another draw against Sunderland 0-0 last weekend. 

For Palace, the long-term injured Kai Havertz will not be recovered. Defenders Ben White, Mosquera and Gabriel are also forced to stay in the pits along with young English midfielder Max Dowman. That said, executives like Timber, Saliba, Hincapié or even the Italian Calafiori in the defensive sector, the Norwegian international Odegaard, the excellent Rice, Merino and Zubimendi in the middle, and the Brazilians Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus and Saka (4 goals in PL) up front are all well present. It will be the same for the interesting Eze (4 goals, 2 assists in PL). On the Seagulls side, the long-term absentees Webster and March as well as the replacement striker Tzimas must all remain at the dock, injured. To these packages we can add that of the interesting midfielder Baleba who joins his team to compete in the African Cup of Nations. Left injured last weekend, right-back Wieffer is uncertain.

Good news, however, for the visitors with the returns from suspension of senior defender Dunk and winger Diego Gomez. A prioro, the striker Welbeck (7 goals in PL) could start against his former team. Minteh (1 goal and 4 assists in PL) and Rutter (1 goal and 2 assists in PL) can also hope to appear in the starting 11.  The probable line-ups for Arsenal - Brighton:Arsenal: Raya - Timber, Saliba, Hincapie, Calafiori - Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice - Saka, Merino, Trossard.Brighton: Verbruggen - Wieffer (or Veltman), Van Hecke, Boscagli, Kadioglu - Ayari, Hinshelwood - Minteh, Rutter, De Cuyper - Welbeck.