Arsenal vs Brighton preview

Team news, stats and prediction ahead of Arsenal vs Brighton in the Premier League on Thursday.

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Team news

Hector Bellerin's hamstring injury will be assessed ahead of Freddie Ljungberg's first home game in interim charge of Arsenal.

Brighton are the visitors to the Emirates Stadium as Ljungberg looks to build on a 2-2 draw at Norwich on Sunday.

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Bellerin has missed the last two games but could return against the Seagulls, while fellow Spaniard Dani Ceballos is definitely missing with his own hamstring complaint.

Brighton will be able to call on Bernardo at the Emirates Stadium.

The left-back has not played since August due to a knee injury but is back in training. Solly March (groin) and Jose Izquierdo (knee) miss out.

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Opta stats

• Arsenal have never lost a home match against Brighton in any competition, winning six, drawing two and keeping six clean sheets in the process.
• Arsenal have only lost one of their last 25 Premier League home games (W17 D7), though are winless in their last three at the Emirates (D3). They last went four league games without a home win in August 2012, while they last did so within a single season in February 1995 (8 games).
• Arsenal have only failed to score in two of their last 59 home Premier League games, with both games coming against Manchester City (0-3 March 2018, 0-2 August 2018).
• Brighton have lost their last four Premier League away games - they've never lost five in a row on the road in the competition, last doing so in league football back in March 2006 (a run of eight).
• Since beating Watford 3-0 on the opening weekend, Brighton are winless in six away league games (D1 L5), scoring just three goals in that run. All three of those goals have been scored by defenders, with Lewis Dunk netting their last two on the road.
• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave Arsenal the lead inside 10 minutes in both Premier League meetings with Brighton last season - however, the Seagulls came back to draw 1-1 both times.
• Arsenal are winless in eight matches in all competitions (D6 L2) - should they fail to beat Brighton, it would be their worst winless run since March 1977, a run of 10.
• Six of Brighton's last eight Premier League goals have been scored via set pieces (four free-kicks, a corner and a penalty) - their first eight goals this season were all scored in open play.

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Charlie's prediction

What a glorious opportunity for Arsenal, this is the only way you can look at it.

They had a bit more spike about them at the weekend but Freddie, why are you picking Shkodran Mustafi? When are you going to learn about Calum Chambers?

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I also cannot understand how David Luiz is in the team. He just doesn't want to run. He is only interested when he gets the ball at his feet. Sokratis Papastathopoulos is a shocker and Mustafi is even worse. Granit Xhaka also cannot run.

It is such a huge mess. I honestly thought Freddie would not be close to getting the job, but now, I do not know how long he will have in charge. In the end, it may not be their number one target who they end up getting.

Regarding Freddie's selection, what have you done there that was different to Unai Emery? I didn't get it. It might be his first pick, but could also be who he has got fit. Bringing in Joe Willock I understood, but the re-introduction of Xhaka baffled me.

Mesut Ozil wanted the ball and wanted to get into the pockets of space, he was decent again. There is an enthusiasm about Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Brighton play out from the back and play with confidence and insurance, but this is about Arsenal getting back on the winning trail and trying to threaten the top six, and potentially the top four.

They need to ramp up the action. The manager has gone and they need results and a winning formula. It will be another tense night though at the Emirates.

CHARLIE PREDICTS: 3-1 (11/1 with Sky Bet)

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