Crouchy’s Shouts for Brighton v Arsenal
Saturday, Dec 31, 5:30pm, Sky Sports Main Event
- Arsenal to win
- Bukayo Saka to have 2+ shots on target
- Leandro Trossard to score or assist
- Thomas Partey to commit 1+ fouls
*A Bet Builder on these selections adds up to 38/1 on PaddyPower.com – TAP HERE TO ADD TO YOUR BETSLIP INSTANTLY
Brighton’s results have been up-and-down since Robert De Zerbi took over but their performances have actually been pretty good overall and I think they’ve been unlucky in many games not to take the three points. They might take a bit more confidence from having a World Cup winner in Alexis Mac Allister in the squad.
He was absolutely class in Qatar, one of Argentina’s best players for sure, and when he returns he’s obviously going to be full of confidence and that’ll feed into the rest of the team.
I like Brighton as a team and like what they’ve been doing at the club since their return to the Premier League and we’ve seen signs of what they’re capable of lately. They had some bad results after losing Graham Potter but got a few wins prior to the break and beat Southampton on Boxing Day.
They have a really good spine to their team, and in Leandro Trossard, Adam Lallana and Pascal Gross, they’ve got some really good players who can cause a threat. Of course, thanks to his performances in Qatar, there will be a lot of teams in for Mac Allister so hopefully they’ll be able to keep a hold of him, though he won’t be back for this game anyway. I expect they’ll finish in the top-half this season and they could push higher in the future if they keep finding players like him.
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For Arsenal, Gabriel Jesus is a big miss. Granted, the goals weren’t exactly flowing for the former Man City man but he’s still a huge problem for opposition defenders – he might not have been on the scoresheet but he’s dragging defenders with him meaning space is created for someone else. He’s a constant menace and his link-up play with other players is exceptional.
But I look at this Arsenal squad and I reckon they’ll be able to handle it until he’s back. With Bakayo Sako and Gabriel Martinelli they have two of the most exciting players in the league and they should be fine until Jesus returns. They might find someone to take Jesus’ place temporarily in January but those are big shoes to fill so I’m not really sure who they could get in the current market.
Though they’re ahead of Man City, it’s hard to see Arsenal keeping pace with them the rest of the season.
City are just a relentless winning machine. Arsenal have been magnificent and it’s a big question: can they sustain it? There aren’t many people out there who believe they can. That’s the challenge now for Mikel Arteta, to give the players the belief that they can do it. He’s done well at the Emirates though and I see him leading Arsenal to glory in the coming seasons, just maybe not this season.
Arsenal to Win
These are two really good footballing teams and I think this match will be exciting. The fact that it’s being played at the Amex means it could get a bit tricky for the Gunners. Brighton won’t fear Arsenal coming to town.
I’ve been down to the Amex a few times this season and have come away disappointed a few times because they had sometimes played the better football but just couldn’t finish off their opponents. They’ve been good to watch however and have some really dangerous players, they just need now to find that killer instinct in the final third and kill-off games.
There’s no way Arsenal are going to travel there and just roll them over, but I still think the Seagulls will come up just short given the way Arsenal have been playing this season. I’d take the league leaders to just nick it.
Bukayo Saka to have 2+ shots on target
With Jesus sidelined, Nketiah has an opportunity to stake a claim at centre-forward for the rest of the season but he has to deliver. Jesus has only scored five Premier League goals this season so if Nketiah goes on a run of scoring a few goals before Jesus returns he’s going to give Arteta a bit of a selection headache.
He should see a lot of the ball here with Saka and Martinelli giving good service from the wings. they’ll have a big role to play too for Arsenal.
Bukayo Saka had a great World Cup for England and will hope to carry some of that form into the second half of the Premier League season. I can see him being a big threat to Brighton and forcing a few saves from the keeper at least.
Leandro Trossard to Score or Assist
For Brighton, you’d have to look at either Leandro Trossard or Paschal Gross as their biggest threats.
Gross is always dangerous from midfield and has five goals over his 14 Premier League appearances so far while Trossard playing further up the field has a higher tally of seven. For me, I’d have to go with Trossard he has a certain knack for finding space where most players can’t.
It only takes a second of magic for him to be in on goal or breaking open a defence. He’ll be a big problem for Arsenal to deal with it and should make a significant contribution.
Thomas Partey to commit 1+ fouls
With Moises Caicedo out for Brighton, that should make Arsenal’s task in midfield slightly easier, but Brighton still have lots of technically strong, tricky, skilled players up the pitch and Arsenal’s Thomas Partey is usually good for a tackle or two when needed.
I can see him coming to the attention of the ref when the home side attack.
*All odds quoted correct at time of publication but subject to change
Crouchy’s Shouts for Brighton v Arsenal
Saturday, Dec 31, 5:30pm, Sky Sports Main Event
- Arsenal to win
- Bukayo Saka to have 2+ shots on target
- Leandro Trossard to score or assist
- Thomas Partey to commit 1+ fouls
*A Bet Builder on these selections adds up to 38/1 on PaddyPower.com – TAP HERE TO ADD TO YOUR BETSLIP INSTANTLY
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