Arsenal will be hoping to stay in the race for Champions League qualification when they welcome Brighton to the Emirates Stadium in Sunday’s Premier League clash.
The Gunners have slipped to two points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea after losing three consecutive matches, although they are on course for qualification via the Europa League following Thursday’s 3-1 first leg semi-final win over Valencia.
Latest odds
Having won six and lost none of their seven previous home meetings with this opposition, they are 5/12 (1.42) favourites with SportPesa to come out on top once again here.
Chris Hughton’s men have lost five and won none of their last seven league games, but can be backed at 29/4 (8.25) to pull off a shock victory in this one.
GettyThe sides shared a 1-1 draw in December’s reverse encounter at the Amex Stadium, and there are odds of 7/2 (4.50) available on them cancelling each other out once again.
Team news
Ainsley Maitland-Niles is suspended after getting sent off in last weekend’s defeat at Leicester, while Mesut Ozil and Nacho Monreal are both doubtful. Denis Suarez, Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding and Danny Welbeck are all long-term absentees.
Beram Kayal will be assessed after suffering a hamstring twinge against Newcastle last time out, with ruled out with the same injury.
Goal-shy Seagulls
Having looked like major favourites to seal a top four spot just a couple of weeks ago, Unai Emery’s team are now outsiders after shock defeats against Crystal Palace, Wolves and Leicester in consecutive games - conceding three goals in each.
However, they are unlikely to have any such defensive difficulties against an opponent that has scored just once in eight fixtures, failing to fire in their last four games away from the Amex Stadium in a row.
Predictions
Arsenal have actually kept six clean sheets in the last nine home matches, so are well worth backing at 13/10 (2.30) to win without conceding against a highly defensive Brighton team.
Arsenal to win to nil at 13/10 (2.30) for a 1pt stake with SportPesa