Mikel Arteta has praised Leandro Trossard’s constructive perspective regardless of his restricted taking part in time, along with his former membership Brighton subsequent up for Arsenal.
The Gunners’ 3-1 win over Brentford on Wednesday noticed them transfer as much as second within the desk, whereas one other win on Saturday would transfer them to inside three factors of leaders Liverpool, who don’t play till Sunday however nonetheless have a sport in hand.
They’re now on a nine-match unbeaten streak within the Premier League heading into the second half of the season however have seen harm issues begin to pile up in latest weeks, together with Saka, that means Trossard could possibly be set for a extra regular run of video games.
“Leo, I feel within the final 12 months, has much more consistency, he’s deserved that,” Arteta stated. “He’s had a whole lot of competitors in his place, in order that’s it. Increase the extent.
“He performs at that degree, he’ll play like anyone else, however he has the capability to do one thing particular within the remaining third.
“Leo, naturally, is a bit little bit of a moaner, however I like that as a result of he’s very aggressive! That’s why he comes on the pitch, he could make an impression as a result of he’s acquired that drive and starvation of ‘I’m going to point out you’, however I like that about him.”
Brighton, in the meantime, have slipped right down to tenth within the desk after a run of three consecutive attracts, together with a comeback in a 2-2 stalemate with Aston Villa final weekend.
In truth, they’ve did not win any of their final seven video games, with Fabian Hurzeler already overseeing 9 attracts in his 19 matches in cost.
After their shiny begin fizzled out in the direction of the top of 2024, the German remained upbeat about their probabilities within the second half of the season.
“After a sport like [the one against Villa] and no win for seven video games, it’s clearly disappointing for us, however we additionally must see the constructive issues,” he stated of Brighton’s season thus far.
“We’ve got excessive expectations of ourselves, however we’re nonetheless in a growth course of and must maintain working exhausting.”
4 of our favorite images taken at @The_AmexStadium in ! pic.twitter.com/kPTILstVI8
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) December 31, 2024
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Brighton – Joao Pedro
Because the begin of final season, Joao Pedro has extra Premier League objectives and assists mixed than another Brighton participant (13 objectives, eight assists).
His 13 objectives are probably the most, whereas his eight assists are bettered solely by the now departed Pascal Gross (10).
Arsenal – Kai Havertz
Bukayo Saka was instantly concerned in 28 Premier League objectives for Arsenal in 2024 (15 objectives, 13 assists), probably the most by a Gunners participant in a single 12 months since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in 2018 (23 objectives, seven assists).
Nevertheless, with him out of the workforce by harm, different gamers shall be anticipated to step as much as the plate, together with Kai Havertz, who has scored in every of his final 4 Premier League video games in opposition to Brighton, netting in all three in opposition to the Seagulls thus far for Arsenal.
MATCH PREDICTION: ARSENAL WIN
Arsenal have gained three of their final 5 Premier League video games in opposition to Brighton (D1 L1), as many as that they had of their first 10 in opposition to the Seagulls within the competitors (D3 L4).
Having been unbeaten in 5 consecutive dwelling league video games in opposition to Arsenal between 1982 and 2020 (W4 D1), Brighton have now misplaced three of their final 4 in opposition to the Gunners (D1).
No facet gained extra factors within the Premier League in 2024 than Arsenal (85). Their 26 wins had been their most in a single 12 months since 2004 (additionally 26), their 89 objectives had been their most since 1963 (112) and their 18 clear sheets had been their most since 1999 (19).
Nevertheless, Brighton haven’t misplaced their first league sport in any of the final eight calendar years (W3 D5), since a 1-0 dwelling loss to Wolves on New Yr’s Day 2016 within the Championship.
The Seagulls struggled for objectives at dwelling in 2024 although, scoring simply 21 on the Amex within the Premier League, a drop of 25 objectives from 2023 once they scored 46. They failed to attain in six dwelling video games in 2024, having solely failed to attain in a single in 2023.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Brighton – 20.2%
Draw – 21.2%
Arsenal – 58.6%