HP Terbaru 2023 – Arteta will be looking for improvement as Arsenal host Brighton

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By Karl Matchett

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Find a way to win?

Premier League champions, many will tell you, find the route to victory regardless of circumstances. You can’t play at peak level every game and ultimately three points are three points whether they come in a resounding thrashing or a last-gasp fluke. But having the consistency to win, game after game after game, usually comes when a team has a reliable method of chance creation and a handful of players near their best form.

Mikel Arteta won’t complain at the manner of victory, but even he must be wondering exactly who his go-to stars are right now. Arsenal are scrapping and set-piecing their way to the points, but the last time they were more than a single goal clear in a Premier League match by the time the clock hit 90 minutes was the North London Derby, over a month ago. They are currently on course for an 87-point season. While that’s obviously good, it’s certainly not great; take the average points for title-winners over the past eight years or so, since Man City started dominating, and it’s not enough to finish first. In 2023/24 the Gunners amassed 89 points and still didn’t win. They are top now, sure, but perhaps they still need to find another gear.

Unpredictability equals watchability

Perhaps it’s a good thing for Arsenal, then, that they now come up against one of the most erratic teams around. Brighton have previously been on a five-match unbeaten streak this season; right now they’re on a four-match winless one. They are certainly better on home soil than on the road though, where Fabian Hürzeler’s team haven’t managed to score enough goals. There’s a heap of talent there including some brilliant young signings and players linked with £60m-plus prospective moves…yet their biggest dangerman this term has been one who left Arsenal almost seven years ago. Danny Welbeck’s seven league goals this season, incidentally, is more than any single Arsenal player.

Recent form

The Gunners have won three of their last four, Brighton haven’t won in that run. Probably more pertinently, it’s Arsenal’s home form which is near-perfect: seven wins from eight in the league, though they drew last time out in the League Cup before winning on penalties. Brighton have won once in their last seven away games.

Team news

Fewer injuries now for both but Gabriel, Kai Havertz and Cristhian Mosquera remain missing for the hosts, while Carlos Baleba is at AFCON and Diego Gómez is back from suspension for the visitors.

Key players

Viktor Gyökeres could do with a run of form and impact. He netted against Everton in the last league game and has 0.44 goals per 90, though has also missed five big chances this term.

Prediction

This one could have a few goals in but Arsenal should have enough at home for the win. 2-1 to the hosts.

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(Cover image from IMAGO)

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