Arsenal vs Brighton Prediction 17.12.2023

• Competition: England - Premier League
• Date: Sunday, 17th, December 2023
• Kickoff: 14:00 UK / 15.00 CET
• Venue: Emirates Stadium (London)

Aiming to apply pressure on the current leaders Liverpool, Arsenal hosts Brighton & Hove Albion at the Emirates Stadium in round number 17 of the English Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

Knowing his team had already secured a spot in the Champions League's best 16, coach Mikel Arteta opted for significant rotations midweek in the Group B finale, resulting in a shared 1-1 outcome against PSV Eindhoven, a team going into the knockout phase alongside them. Armed with a completely refreshed lineup, the Gunners step into Sunday's action aiming to avoid a three-match winless streak after falling narrowly last weekend at Villa Park in a 0-1 defeat against Aston Villa, relinquishing their top spot on the table to leader Liverpool, who came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory against Crystal Palace away. Trailing the Reds by just one point and with an earlier kick-off, Arsenal will attempt, at least temporarily, to seize the summit and simultaneously exert pressure on Klopp's crew.

As well as Sunday's hosts, Brighton Hove & Albion were also involved in midweek European action as they successfully sealed the top of the table in Group B of this year's edition of the Europa League by beating French side Marseille 1-0 thanks to Joao Pedro. Roberto De Zerbi's troops swiftly bounced back onto the path of success after last week's encounter, where despite their dominance over the second-to-last-placed Burnley, they settled for a share of points in a 1-1 draw. As a result, the Seagulls embark on a new, 17th week of top-flight fixtures, perched in eighth place on the table with a seven-point gap behind the reigning champion Manchester City, who surprisingly holds the fourth spot and the final Champions League ticket.

Arsenal vs Brighton Betting Tips: Arsenal to Win

Eager to make amends for last week's letdown, Arsenal possesses all the necessary tools to outshine Brighton and, if only for a few hours, reclaim the commanding position in the English top-flight. Furthermore, under the baton of Mikel Arteta, the team will take to the field on Sunday with a burning desire to deliver ruthless revenge to Brighton, the squad that inflicted a painful 0-3 defeat on them last season, thereby eliminating them from the championship race in a photo-finish. Providing an extra boost for the Gunners is the comfort of playing in front of their home supporters, where they remain unstoppable this season, having yet to taste the bitter flavor of defeat, while in each of their last six home encounters across all competitions, they emerged victorious, averaging three goals per match. 

The offensive firepower of Arsenal could "devour" this week's visitors to the Emirates, as De Zerbi's men—since their unforgettable triumph in North London in May—have failed to keep their net untouched, a streak that encompasses an incredible 20 straight games without a clean sheet. Among other issues, the Seagulls have not fared well in foreign territories of late, succumbing to defeats at Villa Park, the Etihad Stadium, Stamford Bridge, and conceding a staggering 10 goals in those setbacks. Despite Emirates proving to be a fortunate ground for the Southern English club in recent years, we are confident that Arsenal, driven by a burning desire for ruthless revenge, will, in the early stages of the clash, erase from Brighton's mind any fantasy of success, ultimately achieving a decisive victory.