The first half of the season officially comes to an end tomorrow as Arsenal travel to the Sussex coast to face Brighton. Eighteen league games into Unai Emery's tenure, and with only this one to go, the Spaniard will have faced every team once in his new job. Having seen every team in person, he should now be better equipped going into the second half of the season.
A pretty disasterous month or so continued this week as midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan fractured a metatarsal and joined the long list of injured players. Rob Holding and Danny Welbeck continue to be long term absentees with youngsters Emile Smith Rowe and Dinos Mavropanos out going into the new year. There are checks on both Monreal and Mustafi too as both remain doubtful heading into the Brighton clash. Bellerin is also unavailable until the new year with a calf injury, and with a trip to Anfield only round the corner, no risks will be taken with any players.
Mesut Ozil returned to the first team picture last time out and put in a performance his team mates needed. Nothing oustanding but enough to have his colleagues licking their lips. Kolasinac also came back into the fold and again impressed going forward. Although Bernd Leno failed a clean sheet once again, the sole Burnley goal wasn't his fault and he is expected to continue between the sticks against Brighton.
With Mkhitaryan out, Iwobi may come in from the off, as could Ramsey who'll be itching to get some more minutes. After seeing his star forwards finally win a game whilst starting together, Emery is likely to name Lacazette and Aubameyang from the off again. The midfield diamond in front of a back four worked well until Monreal's injury against Burnley and that was probably Arsenal's best start to a league game in a long time. So something good to build upon for sure!
The hosts are looking to avoid a fourth straight defeat having hit a dead run of form of late. Back at the AMEX Brighton are no mugs and Arsenal should expect a tough time. Emery will already be planning for the next one, with Liverpool away in his sights but Brighton away on Boxing day should not be overlooked. Nothing but three points will be good enough for the Gunners here.
Expected lineup:
GK: Bernd Leno
RB: Ainsley Maitland-Niles
CB: Stephan Lichtsteiner
CB: Sokratis
LB: Sead Kolasinac
CDM: Lucas Torreira
CM: Matteo Guendouzi
CM: Granit Xhaka
CAM: Mesut Ozil
ST: Alex Lacazette
ST: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Prediction: 3-1 away win for the Gunners with Lacazette returning to the scoresheet.
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