Gameweek 5 brings Brighton, fifth with seven points and already on 13 goals in four games, up against an Arsenal side that has won all four of their matches and conceded exactly once - and whatever Brighton need from this afternoon, Arsenal need the points more cleanly: they are trying to pull away at the top.
Arsenal's four wins read like a controlled exercise: 2-0 over Sunderland, 2-1 against Chelsea, 1-0 at Aston Villa, 3-0 versus Coventry, one goal conceded across the lot. Brighton have been more breathless about it - a 4-0 win over Aston Villa on 23 August, then a 3-4 loss to Chelsea on 30 August, a 1-1 draw with Leeds on 5 September and a 5-0 demolition of Coventry on 13 September. They also beat Manchester United 3-2 in the Carabao Cup on 16 September, which matters here for one reason only: they have had one fewer day to recover than Arsenal going into this.
Brighton are badly hit by injuries. Wieffer (knee), Mitoma (hamstring), Minteh (calf), Tzimas (knee), Hinshelwood and Ferguson (ankle) are all out and the earlier departures of Baleba, Van Hecke, Welbeck and Milner have left the squad thin across virtually every attacking area. Arsenal's situation is more manageable, with Saliba out long term with a back problem and both Ben White (groin) and Jurrien Timber (ankle) listed as doubts.
Brighton's typical 4-2-3-1 relies on Mitoma and Minteh to win balls wide and drive at full backs. Without them, there is no one who regularly beats a defender in a one on one and more creative responsibility falls on Pascal Gross and Yannick Ayari in midfield while Kostoulas and Yalcouye lead the line. Arsenal, rotating between 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3, press high with a disciplined line and carry attacking width that has caused problems for everyone they have faced this season. Saka on the right will put Brighton's makeshift full back under repeated one on one pressure, Odegaard will look to find passes between Brighton's two holding midfielders, and Rice will win the ball back in the middle third and make life miserable for anyone who tries to play through him. The real question is whether Brighton can press high enough to disrupt Arsenal's build up. Given the injury list and the Carabao Cup fixture already in the legs, sustaining that for 90 minutes looks unlikely.
Arsenal have won 20 of roughly 35 meetings all time, with Brighton winning eight. Brighton's last win came in May 2023, a 3-0 at the Amex and since then Arsenal have won both encounters: 2-1 at home in December 2025 and 1-0 at Brighton in March 2026. Hurzeler only took charge in June 2024, so the managerial head to head is short but it tells the same story.
Set pieces are likely Brighton's clearest route to goal here, particularly given how limited their open play options have become. Arsenal's defensive organisation, built around a high line designed to limit the space for deliveries to land in, should make those moments rare in any case. The Carabao Cup win over United has added fatigue to an already stretched squad and that is the factor that matters most.
Arsenal to win 2-0. Brighton's attacking record is impressive but with six first team players missing their ability to sustain the kind of pressure that would genuinely trouble this Arsenal side is badly dented. If they cannot replicate the pressing intensity they showed against United, Arsenal should win this without being opened up and Brighton's early season scoring form will start to look more fragile than the table suggested.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
