Arsenal return to Premier League action at the Emirates Stadium this weekend aiming to keep their momentum intact as Brighton & Hove Albion arrive in north London. With the season entering a demanding phase, both sides see this fixture as an important marker — Arsenal in their push at the top, Brighton as they look to regain consistency and climb the table.
The Gunners begin the round sitting top of the league, having built their position on a blend of control, resilience and strong home performances. Their most recent outing came in cup competition during the week, where they were pushed hard but came through, while their last league match ended in a narrow away win that kept pressure on the chasing pack. Mikel Arteta’s side have not always dominated opponents in recent games, but they have continued to find ways to collect points — a trait that has underpinned their title challenge so far.
Brighton arrive positioned in the top half, but their league form has stalled slightly. Fabian Hürzeler’s side are without a win in several league matches, drawing too many games where they’ve shown long spells of quality without delivering a decisive edge. Their last match was a goalless draw at home, a result that summed up recent frustrations despite solid organisation and moments of attacking promise.
In terms of squad news, Arsenal are still managing a few fitness concerns across defence and midfield, and rotation has been a feature of Arteta’s approach during this busy spell. No major new injuries are expected, but selection will likely reflect the need to balance freshness with continuity. Brighton also have players working their way back after recent absences, and Hürzeler has been cautious about reintegrating them too quickly during a congested run of fixtures.
Tactically, Arsenal will look to assert control early — moving the ball quickly, stretching the pitch and pressing aggressively to keep Brighton pinned back. Brighton are comfortable playing through midfield when given space, but at the Emirates they may need to be more selective, staying compact and choosing moments carefully when committing bodies forward.
For Arsenal, the aim is clear: make home advantage count and keep their position at the summit intact as the festive schedule tightens. For Brighton, this is a chance to reset their league form and show they can turn competitive performances into tangible rewards against elite opposition. With both sides aware of what’s at stake, this has the feel of a fixture where patience, discipline and small details could make the difference.
