Football Preview | Arsenal v Brighton & Hove Albion

Arsenal's EFL Cup journey continues as they take on Brighton in the fourth round

The Gunners haven’t won the trophy since 1993 and will be looking to move a step closer to what they’d hope would be a first major honour since 2020.

Author | DJ

Stadium | Emirates Stadium

Pre match at the Emirates

Arsenal are unbeaten in ten matches in all competitions, having won seven on the spin and keeping five successive clean sheets. That defensive mettle will be put to the test if Brighton's early EFL Cup performances are anything to go by.

How were Arsenal fans feeling after the win against Crystal Palace

Supporters reflected on the performance with a mixture of satisfaction and caution. “A tough game against a strong Palace side,” said Gerry. “Arsenal have lacked a bit of midfield creativity in recent matches, but the defensive effort was resilient and got the job done.”

Robin offered a similar assessment. “Efficient rather than spectacular, aside from one moment of real brilliance from Eze. It was exactly what we needed against a well-organised Palace defence. It might have been more, but you cannot expect to win every match 4-0.”

Team news

Following the 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace, Mikel Arteta has revealed that William Saliba and Gabriel Martinelli will miss the match against Brighton.

The Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori and Bukayo Saka are all fit. All three were substituted during our 1-0 win against the Eagles.

Outside the Emirates Stadium

As for Brighton, James Milner will play no part after sustaining an injury during the meeting with Manchester United, while Kaoru Mitoma, Joel Veltman and Brajan Gruda remain uncertain selections as they continue to manage ankle, calf and knee problems respectively.

Jack Hinshelwood is sidelined with an ankle issue, and the club is still without Solly March and Adam Webster, who are recovering from longer-term setbacks.

More goals from set-pieces

Arsenal’s return of 11 goals from set-pieces has prompted some debate, although such opportunities only arise when a team consistently occupies threatening areas of the pitch. The quality of delivery in those moments is also often overlooked, yet it has become a clear asset for Mikel Arteta’s side.

Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi have shown an ability to deliver with precision, regularly finding defender Gabriel with crosses that invite a decisive header. It is a skill that deserves recognition rather than scepticism.

What strengthens this approach further is its reliability. Set-pieces offer a repeatable route to goal, and Arsenal have found themselves well equipped to take advantage.

Recent history between the two sides

Brighton travel to north London seeking a first victory over the hosts since May 2023, when they recorded a 3-0 win at Emirates Stadium.

The following campaign saw the Seagulls come out second best in both league meetings. A 2-0 defeat in north London, with goals from Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, was followed by a 3-0 loss at the Amex Stadium, where a Bukayo Saka penalty and further strikes from Havertz and Leandro Trossard sealed the result.

Last season brought a more even contest. Both Premier League fixtures ended 1-1, while the most recent meeting in this competition came in December 2022, when Brighton secured a 3-1 victory.