By Goal.com News on Tuesday, 29 December 2020
Category: Goal.com News

LIVE: Brighton vs Arsenal

39' The game has definitely picked up a little now. This time it's Arsenal coming forward and they win a corner after Bellerin's cross is diverted behind. 

38' Brighton come again and force Leno into action. The ball is whipped in from the right and it's agonisingly out of reach for Bernardo. However, the ball is reecovered and Jahanbakhsh fires a low shot from the left-hand side of the box that draws a smart save from the Arsenal keeper.

36' Moments later, Elneny gifts the Seagulls an opportunity. The Egyptian's pass is picked up by Mac Allister who has one thing on his mind. He has options but takes the shot on and it flashes over the bar.

35' From a throw-in, Gross is afforded acres of space to get a ball into the box. It's loose and almost falls for Jahanbakhsh before Smith Rowe times his recovery challenge to perfection. 

33' Some scrappy play is tidied up by Bissouma who feeds Veltman. The Dutchman whips the ball into the Arsenal area but there's nobody up in support.

32' Jahanbakhsh brings down a long ball well and lays it off for Mac Allister. The hosts win a throw-in before the Gunners force them all the way back to the goalkeeper.

30' Saka is fouled again, this time by Burn, and Arsenal have the opportunity to float a ball into the box. Smith Rowe does just that but Sanchez is out confidently to gather.

28' Smith Rowe steps over it and Xhaka attempts to find the near post. It's a good strike but a few yards too high to trouble Sanchez.

27' Smith Rowe lines up a shot before tumbling to the ground under a challenge from Veltman. The referee waves the game on before Arsenal recover possession and win a dangerous free-kick after Gross is adjudged to have fouled Saka.

26' Bissouma does brilliantly to dispossess Saka who attempts a one-two with Bellerin. 

25' Arsenal look rather toothless going forward currently. They made a decent start but have been second best in the last 10 minutes.

23' What is Leno doing? From a backpass he is caught in possession and Brighton win a corner. The ball in is a good one and Bernardo rises highest but his header is blocked. 

22' Smith Rowe brings down Veltman and Brighton have a chance to get the ball into the box. Gross is over it but his delivery from the right barely reaches the first man and the chance is gone.

20' The majority of the play is in the middle of the park as both sides continue to break the other down. 

18' Bissouma does well to intercept a ball forward from Bellerin. The Malian has provided excellent defensive cover in these opening exchanges.

16' That's the best chance of the game so far. Brighton work the corner short before Bissouma whips a cross in. It's right on the head of Dan Burn but the full-back can't guide his free header on target. 

16' It opens up for Mac Allister as Tierney is caught out of position. He has options but opts to take the shot on himself. It's well blocked but the hosts have a corner. 

14' Arsenal attack with purpose for the first time. Tierney ghosts past Veltman before firing a ball into the middle. Dunk defends well to concede a corner.

13' Bernardo covers well as Bellerin and Saka attempt a one-two on the right flank. It's all very tentative so far. 

11' The hosts enjoy a spell of possession but it's all in front of the Gunners. Eventually they work a chance when Bernardo fires a low cross in from the left wing and Jahanbakhsh gets on the end of it but blasts the ball over the bar. 

9' Brighton are pressing Arsenal as they pass it around at the back but it's clear they have more than an eye on ensuring they don't leave too much space in behind them.

7' Xhaka picks out Martinelli with a long ball and the midfielder's header very nearly sets Aubameyang up, but Dunk does well to intercept and avert the danger.

6' Leno is way out of his box to deal with a ball over the top that was almost gathered by Bernardo. That was good goalkeeping by the German.

5' Martinelli finds Saka with a brilliant first-time flick. The youngster has space and attempts to pick out Aubameyang but Sanchez is out alertly to gather.

3' It's been a quiet start so far with Arsenal dictating most of the early running.

1' Referee Martin Atkinson blows his whistle and Brighton get the game underway.

Brighton won home and away league games against Arsenal last season. They’ve never won three in a row against the Gunners in league competition before; how they'd love to change that today. Kick-off is moments away!

While it’s all change for Burnley, Arteta has opted to field an almost identical side to the one that started against Chelsea. Aubameyang returns to full fitness and is preferred ahead of Lacazette up front. Elsewhere, Gabriel Magalhaes is still self-isolating after coming into contact with someone with Covid-19, while David Luiz and Willian are out through illness but have tested negative for coronavirus.

Potter has decided to make a massive six changes for this one. Only Bissouma keeps his place in midfield with Veltman, Propper and Bernardo joining the Malian in place of White, March and the injured Adam Lallana. Up top, Gross and Mac Allister will support Jahanbakhsh who starts through the middle with Potter perhaps taking the opportunity to rest Trossard, Welbeck and Maupay who line up as substitutes.

ARSENAL SUBS: Runar Alex Runarsson, Cedric Soares, Shkodran Mustafi, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Nicolas Pepe, Joseph Willock, Dani Ceballos, Eddie Nketiah, Alexandre Lacazette.

ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Bernd Leno; Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding, Pablo Mori, Kieran Tierney; Mohamed Elneny, Granit Xhaka; Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Gabriel Martinelli; Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION SUBS: Ben White, Jason Steele, Solly March, Jayson Molumby, Aaron Connolly, Neal Maupay, Leandro Trossard, Danny Welbeck, Andi Zeqiri.

BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION (3-4-3): Robert Sanchez; Adam Webster, Lewis Dunk, Dan Burn; Joel Veltman, Yves Bissouma, Davy Propper, Bernardo; Pascal Gross, Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Alexis Mac Allister.

But there’s no time to feel sorry for themselves as they welcome an Arsenal side fresh off an impressive 3-1 victory over Chelsea. The Gunners hadn’t won in seven going into the London derby, a run that had them perilously close to the relegation zone. However, with a little breathing room, Mikel Arteta will be hoping to make it back-to-back Premier League wins with a first victory at the Amex Stadium.

With both teams firmly in the bottom half of the table, there are a big three points up for grabs here. Brighton almost ended their five-game winless run in their last outing but had to settle for a point away to West Ham after the home side pegged them back twice. Sitting 16th isn’t a fair reflection of Graham Potter’s side who have performed far better than their 13-point tally suggests.

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Premier League meeting between Brighton and Hove Albion and Arsenal from the Amex Stadium.

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