Will Arsenal defend their lead in the table?
For the fifth time in the club’s history, Arsenal Football Club is greeting Christmas from the top of the Premier League table. The only problem is that in the previous four cases, the Gunners were never able to celebrate the championship at the end of the season. That is set to change this season, even though the top of the table in England has become much tighter recently. Aston Villa, in third place, are only three points behind the league leaders from the capital.
Before next week’s top match between Aston Villa and Arsenal in Birmingham, coach Mikel Arteta’s team faces a challenge at home on Saturday afternoon. My concerns that a bet on the leaders between Arsenal and Brighton will not come through are limited!
On the one hand, this is of course due to the confidence with which the Gunners have plowed through the season in all competitions so far. On the other hand, it is also due to the downward trend in form of the visitors from the south of the country. German coach Fabian Hürzeler’s team has gone four games without a win in the English top flight (two draws, two defeats) and has failed to score in its last two games.
After a strong start to the season and victories against top teams such as Manchester City and Chelsea FC, things have quietened down somewhat for the Seagulls. However, with ninth place and 24 points, BHA are still very much on target. However, given their room for improvement in away form, with eight points from eight PL away games and a negative goal difference (9:12), it would be a huge surprise if, one day after Boxing Day, Arsenal’s clash with Brighton suddenly resulted in a point at the Emirates Stadium.
Apart from that, it should not be forgotten that Rice, Zubimendi, Gyökeres and Co. are virtually unbeatable in front of their home crowd. They have picked up 22 out of a possible 24 points at home in the Premier League. The outstanding goal difference of 20:3 at their own stadium also speaks volumes. They currently have five consecutive home wins in the Premier League.
With the personnel situation slowly easing and coach Mikel Arteta able to rest many players during the week as they advanced to the semifinals of the EFL Cup, I am convinced that the impressive run will continue on matchday 18. For a match combo of a home win with at least one goal in both halves, you’ll find attractive odds of 2.11 at the top of the Bet-at-home app.
Alternatively, the Arsenal vs. Brighton odds on the Asian handicap (-1.25) are also very interesting. I have my eye on Bukayo Saka as a potential goalscorer. The dribbling right winger has been getting better and better lately and will once again play a key role in the Gunners’ offense against the Seagulls.
Arsenal – Brighton Head-to-head comparison / H2H record
Arsenal FC has a lower win rate at home in the Premier League against only Wimbledon and Liverpool than against Brighton. The Londoners have won only three of their eight PL home games against the Seagulls so far. Two draws and three defeats round off their home record in the English top flight. Overall, however, Brighton have gone four games without a win against the capital club (0-2-2). Interestingly, all three PL home wins against BHA ended 2-0. Conversely, this also means that whenever Arsenal have conceded a goal at home against Brighton, they have ultimately failed to win…
Arsenal – Brighton Tip
Brighton has played ten Premier League games under Fabian Hürzeler in December. However, the German coach is still waiting for a win (0-6-4). In my opinion, that won’t change on Saturday. Arsenal is the clear favorite going into the game.
The Gunners have won seven of eight PL home games this season, averaging 2.5 goals per game. Arteta’s team continues to lead the table in England and is impressing with its clinical football. Against the Seagulls, who are often somewhat sloppy defensively, I could even imagine a handicap win for the hosts.
I also see value in the Arsenal vs. Brighton betting odds that the Londoners will leave the pitch as winners and that at least one goal will be scored in both halves. I’m betting four fictitious units on the 2.11 odds offered by Bet-at-home, Saka is a potential goal scorer.
