Draw
This would have been a literal relegation six-pointer had Arsenal not managed to pull the rabbit out of the hat against Chelsea on Boxing Day, yet it is still a massive game for the Gunners.
Arsenal have won just two of their last 10 games in the league – against Manchester United and Chelsea – and they have struggled massively against the league’s supposed weaker teams. The Gunners are without a win on the road since that win at Old Trafford and they will struggle to improve that record against a Brighton side that finds it hard to win games, but has proved incredibly difficult to beat.
Graham Potter’s side have drawn seven games this season – at least two more than anyone else – and have won just twice out of 15 games. Arsenal sit just one place and four points above The Seagulls in the league table, and could find it difficult to win back-to-back games for the first time since September here.
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Under 2.5 goals
Arsenal have found it notoriously difficult to score goals since Mikel Arteta took the reins last December and have found it even harder to score goals this season.
Mikel Arteta’s men have scored just 15 goals in 15 games this season and have drawn a blank on six separate occasions this season. Brighton have not exactly been setting the world alight either, despite their obvious intentions to play more offensive football under Potter.
The Seagulls have scored just three more goals than Arsenal, and have drawn blanks in two of their last four games. Neither side gives up too many chances at the other end – despite their blatant shortcomings – meaning we could see a low-scoring draw.
Brighton half-time/Draw full time
Arsenal’s poor away record stems from their abysmal first half performances on the road. The Gunners have gone in behind at half-time in four of their seven away games, while they have gone in level at the break twice.
Only in the first game of the season against Fulham did Arsenal go in ahead at the short whistle away from home. They have failed to take a lead in at half-time in each of their six away games, while they have also struggled at home in the opening 45 minutes of games – failing to go in ahead at half-time in their first seven home games of the season before their convincing win against Chelsea.
Meanwhile, Brighton have gone ahead in the first half in three of their last six games. The Seagulls could catch Arsenal cold in the opening half, but could ultimately be caught out by their inability to win games.
Brighton v Arsenal tips summary:
Draw
Under 2.5 goals
Brighton halftime/Draw fulltime
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