Kickoff: 12:30 PM Eastern, 5:30 PM UK Venue: The Falmer Stadium (aka the AmEx), Brighton US TV: NBC Fresh off a 3-1 win against a team whose name doesn't ring a bell, Arsenal heads to the South Coast to play last season's xG darlings, Brighton & Hove Albion, in an early homecoming for Ben White. Brighton have started brightly (heh), with 4 wins and a draw from their opening 6 matches, good for 6th in the league heading into the weekend. Their most recent fixture was a 1-1 away draw at Palace, punctuated by a terrific chip in stoppage time by ugh Neal Maupay. There may be a bit of an injury crisis afflicting the Seagulls, though, as midfield stalwart and perpetual Arsenal transfer target Yves Bissouma has missed their last two matches, and Graham Potter is merely "optimistic" that he'll be available on Saturday. They'll also be missing starting CB Adam Webster, new arrival CM Enock Mwepu, and Danny Welbeck with various injuries. Get well soon, Welbz. For Arsenal, Granit Xhaka is out until the New Year with an MCL injury. Everyone else should be ready to go. May we go into the international break in good health and spirits. COYG
Even though we’re going away to the fortress that is Brighton Community Stadium I just pray that we play on the front foot, right from the go, with the same speed and urgency that was so successful against spurs. And so fun to watch!
Just need to keep winning to keep momentum up, and forget the demons of the first three match days. We had our worst start to the season and need to completely put that behind us. A win against a very good Brighton side will add to the confidence. But this will be a much harder match than Norwich or Tottenham were.
Brighton away, Palace at home, Villa at home are already tricky games, before we roll into November/December where we have; Leicester away, Watford @ home, Liverpool away, Toon @ home, Yanited away, Everton away, Southampton @ home, WHU @ home.
I think this match might be a little tough. And in retrospect, tougher than the NLD we just played. Brighton's in better form than them. Also, our players won't necessarily have that extra motivation that comes with an NLD. My gut says this is a 50/50 match, thus if it ended in a draw, I might take that. BUT if we manage to actually win this one, I think it'll be a pretty big statement from the players especially, and in support of Arteta's coaching.
Sambi gets the start in Xhaka's absence. Mari and Chambers aren't making the bench. 🚨 TEAM NEWS! 🏴 @AaronRamsdale98 in goal🇬🇭 @Thomaspartey22 starts🇬🇦 @Auba leads the line!#BRAARS pic.twitter.com/hlwwgdaLJz— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 2, 2021
The XI kind of picks itself these days. That's the only perk of not having European games. Mari being out of the team is great news for my blood pressure. I wouldn't even want him in MLS.
Arteta could have picked the 4-3-3/4-1-4-1 lineup he used against Burnley and used Pepe instead of Sambi. And there was an outside shot he'd like a AMN-Partey partnership better than Sambi-Partey. But yes, the other 10 choices are automatic.
This weather looks miserable. With these conditions, I don't love how close our defenders are allowing the Brighton press to get to them before they release a pass. Seems like it's asking for a colossal error.
Not quite the start you want, we are being hit on the counter and Tierneys side is getting exposed a bit.
Arsenal's choices in passing have been poor. Waiting too long, passing to men in coverage... They need to be quicker and more direct in their possession