Brighton vs Arsenal FC, EPL, Prediction, Match Preview & Live Streaming, 04 January

The EPL season is on and today, January 4, 2025, Brighton will host Arsenal at The American Express Community Stadium for a thrilling English Premier League encounter. With Arsenal sitting in 2nd place and Brighton in 10th, both teams are eager for a win. Arsenal is currently in excellent shape and Arteta & Co. will be aiming to close the gap with league leaders Liverpool. They have been extremely successful in 2024, with wins against teams like Crystal Palace and Brentford. Despite missing key player Bukayo Saka, Arsenal’s offensive tactics remain strong with standout performances from Kai Havertz.

Brighton, however, is facing a challenging period with a winless streak stretching across seven matches. Although they have managed to gather points from some draws and will benefit from Pervis Estupiñán’s return from injury, the absence of top scorer Danny Welbeck adds significant pressure.

Match Prediction and Betting Tips

Given the current form of both teams, Arsenal is seen as the favourite team to win. Historically dominating Brighton, Arsenal’s chances of victory are high. A smart betting tip for this game is over 2 goals, due to Arsenal’s potent attacking plays and Brighton’s recent defensive vulnerabilities. The odds favour Arsenal’s win at 1.83.

Brighton vs Arsenal Prediction
Betting Tip
Over 2 Goals

Brighton: Team Analysis and Key Players

Recent Performance: DDDLD

Brighton hasn’t tasted victory since November 23 but has shown resilience by drawing tight matches.

Home team	Away team	Result
Aston Villa	Brighton	2-2 (Draw)
Brighton	Brentford	0-0 (Draw)
West Ham United	Brighton	1-1 (Draw)
Brighton	Crystal Palace	1-3 (Loss)
Leicester City	Brighton	2-2 (Draw)

Key players such as João Pedro and Julio Enciso need to elevate their game. Pedro will be key in attacking, while Baleba’s defensive skills will aim to counter Arsenal’s sharp midfield movements.

Injuries and Tactics

Brighton’s squad is thin due to numerous injuries, notably Danny Welbeck and Pervis Estupiñán.

Player	Injury	Expected Return
James Milner	Hamstring Injury	Mid-January 2025
Danny Welbeck	Ankle Injury	Mid-January 2025
Pervis Estupiñán	Illness	Doubtful

Head coach Fabian Hürzeler typically employs a 4-2-3-1 formation, focusing on counter-attacks through speed on the wings.

Brighton Predicted Lineup:

Goalkeeper: Bart Verbruggen
Defenders: Tariq Lamptey, Jan Paul van Hecke, Lewis Dunk, Igor
Midfielders: Carlos Baleba, Matt O’Riley, Julio Enciso
Attackers: João Pedro, Yankuba Minteh, Kaoru Mitoma

Arsenal: Team Analysis and Key Players

Recent Performance: WWWWD

Arsenal is in red-hot form, having won four of their last five matches. The Gunners average 2.4 goals per game, confirming their title challenge intent.

Home team	Away team	Result
Brentford	Arsenal	1-3 (Win)
Arsenal	Ipswich Town	1-0 (Win)
Crystal Palace	Arsenal	1-5 (Win)
Arsenal	Crystal Palace	3-2 (Win)
Arsenal	Everton	0-0 (Draw)

Arsenal relies on the striking prowess of Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, and Leandro Trossard. Martin Ødegaard’s playmaking, alongside Declan Rice’s midfield dominance, forms a robust centre.

Injuries and Tactics

Arsenal faces some key player absences, including Bukayo Saka. Still, their formation under coach Mikel Arteta, typically a 4-3-3, focuses on high-pressing and rapid counter-attacks.

Player	Injury	Expected Return
Bukayo Saka	Hamstring Injury	Late February 2025
Ben White	Knee Injury	Late January 2025

Arsenal Predicted Lineup

Goalkeeper: David Raya
Defenders: William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães, Thomas Partey (right-back), Myles Lewis-Skelly (left-back)
Midfielders: Kai Havertz, Martin Ødegaard, Declan Rice
Forwards: Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli

Head-to-Head Encounters

In recent clashes, Arsenal has emerged victorious in three of the last five meetings. However, Brighton managed a striking 3-0 victory at Arsenal’s home ground, showing their capability to spring surprises.

Home	Away	Result
Arsenal	Brighton	1-1
Brighton	Arsenal	0-3
Arsenal	Brighton	2-0
Arsenal	Brighton	0-3
Brighton	Arsenal	2-4

Venue and Weather

Expect vibrant energy from Brighton’s home crowd at The American Express Community Stadium, which has a capacity of 30,750. The cold, overcast weather, with high humidity, will demand energy conservation from both teams, potentially aiding Arsenal’s quicker, pressing play style early on.

Both teams head into this match with clear objectives, Arsenal aiming to reinforce their title quest, and Brighton seeking to break free from their winless chain.