Mikel Arteta has praised Leandro Trossard's positive attitude despite his limited playing time, with his former club Brighton next ahead of Arsenal.
The Gunners' 3-1 win over Brentford on Wednesday moved them up to second in the table, while another win on Saturday would move them within three points of leaders Liverpool, who don't play until Sunday but still have a game in hand has. .
They are now nine games unbeaten in the Premier League heading into the second half of the season, but have seen injury problems pile up in recent weeks, including Saka, meaning Trossard could be ready for a more stable run of games. .
“I think Leo has had a lot more consistency in the last 12 months, he has deserved that,” Arteta said. “He's had a lot of competition in his position, so that's it. Raise the level.
“He plays at that level, he will play like anyone else, but he has the ability to do something special in the final third.
“Leo is of course a bit of a whiner, but I like that because he is very competitive! That's why he comes on the field, he can make an impact because he has that drive and hunger of 'I'm going to show it'.” you,' but I love that about him.”
Brighton, meanwhile, have slipped to 10th after a run of three straight draws, including a comeback in a 2-2 stalemate against Aston Villa last weekend.
In fact, they have failed to win any of their last seven matches, with Fabian Hurzeler having drawn nine in his nineteen games in charge.
After their good start failed at the end of 2024, the German remained optimistic about his chances in the second half of the season.
“After a game like [the one against Villa] and seven games without a win, it's obviously disappointing for us, but we have to see the positives too,” he said of Brighton's season so far.
“We have high expectations of ourselves, but we are still in a development process and have to keep working hard.”
Four of our favorite photos taken at @The_AmexStadium in ! pic.twitter.com/kPTILstVI8
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) December 31, 2024
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Brighton – Joao Pedro
Since the start of last season, Joao Pedro has more Premier League goals and assists combined than any other Brighton player (13 goals, eight assists).
His thirteen goals are the most, while his eight assists are only bettered by the now departed Pascal Gross (ten).
Arsenal – Kai Havertz
Bukayo Saka was directly involved in 28 Premier League goals for Arsenal in 2024 (15 goals, 13 assists), the most by a Gunners player in a single year since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in 2018 (23 goals, seven assists).
However, now that he has been left out of the team through injury, other players are expected to make an appearance, including Kai Havertz, who has scored in each of his last four Premier League games against Brighton and in all three against the Seagulls scored. way ahead of Arsenal.
MATCH PREDICTION: ARSENAL WIN
Arsenal have won three of their last five Premier League games against Brighton (D1 L1), as many as they won in their first ten against the Seagulls in the league (D3 L4).
After going unbeaten in five consecutive home games against Arsenal between 1982 and 2020 (W4 D1), Brighton have now lost three of their last four games against the Gunners (D1).
No team has achieved more points in the Premier League in 2024 than Arsenal (85). Their 26 wins were their most in a single year since 2004 (also 26), their 89 goals were their most since 1963 (112) and their 18 clean sheets were their most since 1999 (19).
However, Brighton have not lost their first league match (W3 D5) in any of the last eight calendar years, since a 1-0 home defeat to Wolves on New Year's Day 2016 in the Championship.
However, the Seagulls struggled to score goals in 2024, scoring just 21 at the Amex in the Premier League, a drop of 25 goals from 2023 when they scored 46. In 2024, they failed to score in six home games, having only failed to score. into one in 2023.
OPTA CHANCE OF WINNING
Brighton – 20.2%
Draw – 21.2%
Arsenal – 58.6%
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