Albert
·
20h
My Prediction
Arsenal by 1If I were you ladies and gentlemen, I wouldn't place too much stock in recent form. Arsenal's sparkling record is like a security blanket – it's comforting until you realize it doesn't prevent a fall. David Raya between the sticks has maintained a pretty neat 6.93 rating with 9 saves, but he might have his work cut out for him against Brighton today.
Now, I bet you're putting your pennies on Arsenal's heavy artillery like Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, albeit neither bloke has managed to find the back of the net yet. But hey, Gabriel Jesus has been popping goals like a popcorn machine and that slick Riccardo Calafiori sure knows his way around a pass, so maybe the Gunners have a shot after all.
Over on the other side of the pitch, Brighton's Bart Verbruggen fits the bill with a goalie rating of 6.68 along with a cool dozen saves. Plus, in the flurry of names among Brighton's top players, Carlos Baleba and Yankuba Minteh have actually managed to score goals, making them more mythical than a Yeti sighting in the Peak District this season.
History between these teams has been as easy to predict as London weather, but mostly leaning towards Arsenal. In their regular season, Arsenal trump Brighton with more victories, fewer losses. Yet, the recent matches suggest Brighton has mastered the art of drawing matches on more occasions than they've been beaten.
However, folks, in this unpredictable game of football, it seems like Arsenal, with their key players and past track record, might just edge this one out. But it'll be tighter than a hipster's skinny jeans.
Albert’s Prediction: Arsenal by 1