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Mikel Arteta: “It’s about supporting our players,” said the Arsenal manager when he was asked how he and his staff had helped Gabriel Jesus find his scoring boots after a long barren spell. “The players know they have to go through some periods sometimes which is not how they planned.
“As well, they have to believe in themselves and we have to make sure that if one day they doubt, we are there to recognise and make sure they feel from our side how much we like them and how happy we are to have them.”
Fabian Hurzeler: “Things happen for different reasons,” said Brighton’s German manager of his team’s seven-game winless run. “The experience gives you orientation in how to behave in these situations and how to come back to the results. In the end, there are some patterns you can adjust. Despite the bad results, we have had some really good performances. Always trust the process. We are on the right way.”
Today’s match officials
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Referee: Anthony Taylor.
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Assistants: Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn.
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Fourth official: Sam Barrott.
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VAR: Darren England.
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Assistant VAR: Akil Howson.
Those teams: Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli are surprise omissions from the Arsenal starting line-up, with Mikel Arteta bringing in Jorginho and former Brighton player Leandro Trossard to replace them as they drop to the bench. Declan Rice comes in for Jurrien Timber, who is suspended, which means we can expect to see Thomas Partey starting at right-back.
Fabian Hurzeler makes three changes to the side that drew with Aston Villa last time out. Pervis Estupinan starts in place of Lewis Dunk, who is not in the matchday squad. The Ecuadorian will start at left-back, with Igor Julio moving inside to centre-back. Elsewhere in the Brighton back four, Joel Veltman comes in for Tariq Lamptey, while Matt O’Riley replaces Julio Enciso in midfield.
Brighton v Arsenal line-ups
Brighton: Verbruggen; Veltman, Van Hecke, Igor, Estupinan; Baleba, Ayari, O’Riley; Adingra, Pedro, Gruda
Subs: Steele, Lamptey, Webster, March, Enciso, Georginio, Minteh, Moder, Mitoma
Arsenal: Raya; Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Jorginho, Merino; Nwaneri, Jesus, Trossard
Subs: Neto, Zinchenko, Tierney, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Odegaard, Martinelli, Butler-Oyedeji, Kabia
Early team news
Arsenal right-back Jurrien Timber sits this one out through suspension, and with both Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu sidelined with knee injuries, Thomas Partey seems likely to deputise. One of Declan Rice or Kai Havertz is likely to come back into the side after missing Arsenal’s win over Brentford. Bukayo Saka remains out with a thigh injury, while the lesser-spotted Raheem Sterling is also unavailable through injury.
For Brighton, Ferdi Kadioglu, James Milner, Danny Welbeck, Evan Ferguson, Mats Wieffer and Jack Hinshelwood all remain out, but Adam Webster has been passed fir after recovering from a thigh injury and Pervis Estupinan could return after missing his side’s last game through illness.
Premier League: Brighton v Arsenal
Without a win in seven games, five of which they’ve drawn, Brighton could do with a statement home win over Arsenal to electro-shock their season back into life before it flatlines.
“Despite the bad results, we have had some really good performances,” said their manager Fabian Hurzeler, who will need his players to front up today if they are to get a good result against today’s visitors, who can close the gap to Liverpool (who have played one game fewer) to three points with a win until tomorrow at least.
Arsenal arrive in Falmer for this evening’s game on the back of three conecutive league wins but anything less than a fourth will be viewed as a poor result, despite the undeniable quality of their opposition. Kick-off at the Amex Stadium is at 5.30pm (GMT) but we’ll have team news and build-up in the meantime.
