Brighton vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League team news and line-ups as Gunners look to close gap to Liverpool

Arsenal travel down south to face Brighton in the Premier League this evening, with the Gunners looking to keep the pressure on Liverpool at the top of the table.

Mikel Arteta’s side started the new year in convincing fashion as they came back from a goal down to beat Brentford 3-1 on New Year’s Day, and players and fans alike will believe they’re still firmly in the title race despite Liverpool’s six-point advantage and game in hand.

Meanwhile, Brighton are sitting in 10th despite some good results over the first half of the season, and the Seagulls will hope to start the new year in encouraging fashion having grabbed a promising 1-1 draw at the Emirates in the reverse fixture.

Follow all of the build-up from the Amex in our live blog below:

Brighton vs Arsenal LIVE

• Brighton host Arsenal in the Premier League, with kick-off at 5.30pm | Live on Sky Sports

• The Seagulls sit in 10th in the league on 27 points

• Arsenal start the weekend six points behind leaders Liverpool at the top

• Brighton XI: Verbruggen, Veltman, Van Hecke, Igor Jukio, Estupinan, Baleba, Ayari, Gruda, O’Riley, Adingra, Joao Pedro

• Arsenal XI: Raya, Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Rice, Jorginho, Merino, Nwaneri, Trossard, Jesus

Brighton & Hove Albion FC – Arsenal FC

Arsenal line-up versus Brighton

16:17 , Mike Jones

Arsenal XI: Raya, Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Rice, Jorginho, Merino, Nwaneri, Trossard, Jesus

Brighton line-up versus Arsenal

16:16 , Mike Jones

Brighton XI: Verbruggen, Igor Jukio, Gruda, Joao Pedro, Adringra, Baleba, Ayari, Van Hecke, Estupinan, O’Riley, Veltman

Fabian Hurzeler calls for decisive ruling on goalkeeper treatment at set-pieces

16:10 , Mike Jones

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has called on the game’s rule makers to come up with a decisive ruling on how goalkeepers are treated at set-pieces.

Hurzeler was annoyed at a decision which went against his side during the 2-2 draw at Aston Villa on Monday night, where Tariq Lamptey earned a point after Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers had overturned Simon Adingra’s early opener.

The German felt Bart Verbruggen was impeded at corner which he flapped at immediately before Villa won a first-half penalty after a lengthy VAR check.

Fabian Hurzeler calls for decisive ruling on goalkeeper treatment at set-pieces

Hurzeler rues point against Villa and believes Brighton deserved more

16:05 , Mike Jones

Brighton deserved more than a point from their last match against Villa says manager Fabian Hurzeler who is keen to end the Seagulls’ run of draws.

The 2-2 result with Villa was Brighton’s fifth draw from their last seven matches.

“I think we deserved much more than one point, I thought we were the better team,” Hurzeler admitted, “We dominated the first 20-25 minutes but then we concede a penalty when it’s not possible that it’s a penalty.

“Bart [Verbruggen] was being blocked at the corner. You can give the penalty but also a foul on Bart. I don’t understand why it’s not a foul.

“It was too easy how we conceded two goals from set pieces but otherwise we defended good. In some moments, though, we were not mature enough.

“After the second goal we struggled for a bit and weren’t intense enough, but I thought in the last 30-35 minutes we did enough to win, the reaction was very impressive. We played well in and out of possession. We had big chances to get a third goal.”

Hurzeler delighted with Minteh impact

16:00 , Mike Jones

Fabian Hurzeler says he is delighted with the impact Yankuba Minteh has made off the bench this season. The Gambia international has made 14 Premier League appearances with eight of them coming as a substitute.

“I had a conversation with him the day before the game [against Villa] and I said he is in a good place,” Hurzeler explained ahead of today’s fixture against Arsenal.

“He should continue his work on the training pitch so he continues having an impact on our game. I think especially the games where he started as a sub, he had a great impact on our game.

“He created chances, he was a danger for the opponent. We have to work and have to help him improve on the small details – getting more assists and goals out of his actions.

“But in general I am happy with his work ethic, I am happy with his development. We should not forget how young he is and it is also like a very different culture from where he came from. That is why it is important to be patient with him.

“It is important to give him the environment where he can improve and then I am sure he will be a very important player for us, also in the future.”

‘Our identity is to play intense’ says Hurzeler

15:55 , Mike Jones

Fabian Hurzeler has backed his Brighton team to play with intensity against Arsenal in the hopes of securing a first league win in seven games.

The Seagulls boss said: “I think it’s very important that we play with our identity, our identity means to play intense. If you don’t play intense, we have no chance against Arsenal. If you don’t play with courage in possession, we have no chance.

“I think these two things are the main thing. Another big part of the game are set-pieces. When you see how much danger they can create by a set-piece, then we have to take care of these things.

“It’s also a big part. So these three things are very important.”

Aston Villa fail to close gap on top four with draw at home to Brighton

15:50 , Mike Jones

Aston Villa ended a hugely successful 2024 with a disappointing 2-2 draw against Brighton and Hove Albion as they failed to close the gap on the Premier League’s top four.

Villa started the year by reaching a Europa Conference League semi-final and qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in their history.

But their ambitions of finishing in the top four again look to be hamstrung by inconsistency which has produced results like this.

Aston Villa fail to close gap on top four with draw against Brighton

Arteta on Arsenal’s consistency

15:45 , Mike Jones

Speaking ahead of today’s game, Mikel Arteta says he hopes Arsenal can be more consistent as they look to challenge Liverpool for the title.

He said: “We have to show the same level of consistency and a bit more, because in the last year we have been the best team in the league, broken various records and still haven’t won a major trophy, so something is missing.

“It’s going to be very thin, small details, you can pick up in certain games and situations, but at the end, we’re so close and we just have to flip that coin to the other side to make it happen.

“That’s only going to happen if we do what we have to do and what we can control, the rest is out of our hands.”

Ben White nearing return from injury

15:40 , Mike Jones

Arsenal will soon be given the boost of Ben White’s return as the defender is recovering well from a knee injury according to Mikel Arteta.

The manager said: “Ben is still a few weeks away. His knee looks good, he’s reacted really well, and in the first few weeks everything is going smoothly.

“Now we need to start the load and that means he needs to get through many more things that up to now he hasn’t been able to do, but hopefully it’s good.

“His work ethic is unbelievable and naturally, he’s a really gifted player so I am very positive that we’re going to have him quite early, but I don’t know when.”

Arteta provides update on Sterling and Tomiyasu

15:35 , Mike Jones

Mikel Arteta gave an update on some of Arsenal’s recent absentees including Raheem Sterling and Takehiro Tomiyasu. The Gunners boss said: “Raheem’s starting to do some stuff on the pitch so that’s great news. As quickly as possible we want him available. Let’s see how he progresses this week and then see if we can go for the following week.

“Tomi again has done some stuff on the pitch but now because it’s been a long-term injury we need to see how quickly he can progress and how he reacts.”

When asked if Kai Havertz, who missed the last match through illness, is fit to play Arteta replied: “Yes, I think so.”

Arsenal show vital quality to surge to comeback victory over Brentford

15:30 , Mike Jones

Arsenal scored two goals in three second-half minutes to complete a 3-1 comeback victory at Brentford to move back up to second in the Premier League.

The Gunners were behind after just 13 minutes when Bryan Mbeumo struck for Brentford before David Raya nearly gift-wrapped the hosts a second when he allowed Keane Lewis-Potter’s shot to slip through his grasp.

Raya clawed the ball off his own line and one minute later Gabriel Jesus headed Arsenal back on level terms.

Arsenal show vital quality to surge to comeback victory over Brentford

Brighton vs Arsenal prediction

15:25 , Mike Jones

The Seagulls will back themselves to perform in front of their home supporters and with an extended break between now and the next league game they’ll throw everything they have at Arsenal.

The Gunners, knowing they cannot afford to drop points, will start slowly and might even concede first but they’ll respond well and manage to do enough to secure the three points.

Brighton 1-2 Arsenal.

Arsenal early team news

15:20 , Mike Jones

Arsenal were hit by an illness bug ahead of the New Year’s Day fixture at Brentford, with Kai Havertz missing out after coming down with sickness and other players affected. Jurrien Timber is suspended, which will likely mean Thomas Partey moves to a right-back role he has played on occasion this season.

Predicted Arsenal XI: Raya; Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Rice, Merino; Martinelli, Jesus, Trossard.

Brighton early team news

15:15 , Mike Jones

Fabian Hurzeler will be hopeful that Pervis Estupinan is able to return after illness, while Adam Webster is nearing his own comeback after a longer lay off. James Milner and Danny Welbeck are among those who remain sidelined.

Predicted Brighton XI: Verbruggen; Lamptey, Dunk, Van Hecke, Estupinan; Baleba, O’Riley; Adingra, Rutter, Mitoma; Pedro.

How can I watch it?

15:10 , Mike Jones

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage from 5pm GMT. Subscribers can stream the action via Sky Go.

If you want to stream major sporting events while you are travelling or watching from abroad you’ll need a VPN. Get the best VPN deals in the UK. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are, and also with the terms of their service provider.

When is Brighton vs Arsenal?

15:05 , Mike Jones

Brighton vs Arsenal is due to kick off at 5.30pm GMT on Saturday 4 January at the Amex Stadium.

Brighton vs Arsenal

15:00 , Mike Jones

Arsenal can close the gap to Liverpool to just three points as they travel south to take on Brighton.

With Arne Slot’s league leaders not in action until Sunday against Manchester United, Mikel Arteta and his side will hope to put the pressure on with another win after opening 2025 with an impressive fightback against Brentford.

Their hosts are likely to prove tricky opposition, though, having secured a draw in the reverse fixture in a game that saw Declan Rice controversially dismissed.

A run of seven games without a win has rather squandered a strong start under Fabian Hurzeler and Brighton will be keen to regather momentum as the second half of the Premier League season begins.

Good afternoon!

11:17 , Mike Jones

Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of today’s Premier League action as Brighton host Arsenal in Saturday’s late kick off.

The Seagulls are without a win in seven matches though they have drawn their last three league games against West Ham, Brentford and most recently Aston Villa. Fabian Hurzeler’s side are in decent form but haven’t been able to convert their nice play in positive results and will hope to change that against the Gunners today.

They have a difficult task on their hands however. Arsenal are one of the most in-form sides in the league. They are unbeaten in 12 matches across all competitions and have won their last three league games by an aggregate score of 9-2. Gabriel Jesus is back to his best goalscoring form and Mikel Arteta’s men have so far managed to limit the loss of Bukayo Saka to injury.

But how will today’s encounter at the Amex Stadium turn out?

We’ll have all the team news, line-ups and match action throughout the day so stick with us as we build up to kick off at 5.30pm.