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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Luke Baker

Arsenal v Brighton live: Injury-hit Gunners cling on for vital Premier League win to go top

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard’s first club goal of the season helped his side beat Brighton 2-1 to return to the top of the Premier League table.

For the second week running, Arsenal kicked off having been displaced by Manchester City, who beat Nottingham Forest earlier in the day, and they responded once again to the challenge.

Odegaard’s season has been disrupted by a knee injury but he showed trademark precision in the 14th minute to drive a left-footed shot low past Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen. Arsenal were totally dominant and doubled their lead with a Georginio Rutter own goal in the 52nd minute.

Brighton had offered next to nothing as an attacking force until Diego Gomez slammed in a rebound on 64 minutes after Yasin Ayari’s shot came back off the post and would have equalised had Arsenal keeper David Raya not produced a stunning save to keep out Yankuba Minteh’s curling effort. It was a nervy finish but the Gunners held on to climb back top.

Relive all the action with our live blog below:

Arsenal v Brighton - Premier League live updates

  • Arsenal hold off Brighton to win 2-1 at the Emirates and climb back to the top of the Premier Leage table
  • 77' - SAVE! Raya brilliantly tips Minteh's effort over the bar to maintain Arsenal's lead (ARS 2-1 BHA)
  • 64' - GOAL! Gomez strokes home rebound after Ayari hits post to halve deficit (ARS 2-1 BHA)
  • 53' - OWN GOAL! Rutter puts Rice's corner into his own net (ARS 2-0 BHA)
  • 15' - GOAL! Odegaard rifles home a finish from the edge of the box (ARS 1-0 BHA)

Martin Odegaard: 'You need to win in different ways'

17:35 , Luke Baker

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard scored one of the two goals today and helped drive the Gunners on as they climbed back top of the Premier League.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the win, he said:It was a tough one in the end but I think we played a good game. We were dominant from the start, they got a bit of momentum towards the end but we got an important three points.

“I think we played really good, controlled the game but we could have done better and not let them score like they did. They got the momentum when they got the goal, got belief back, but we did well to defend.

On David Raya's save: “I think that was the only big chance they had apart from the goal, it was a great save.

On scoring: “I've been waiting for that one, I've been working on my finishing a lot in training so I'm happy.

"The last few games have been [close], but you have to be able to win in different ways. We need to keep going, keep building and keep getting the wins."

(Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

David Raya preserves the points

17:22 , Luke Baker

This might have been the key moment of the match. David Raya pulling off a remarkable, fingertip save from Yankuba Minteh to keep it at 2-1. Brilliant by the Spaniard

(Action Images via Reuters)
(REUTERS)

Arsenal back top of the table

17:14 , Luke Baker

So that win moves Arsenal back to the top of the Premier League table - they jump back above Man City on to 42 points, with Pep Guardiola’s men on 40.

Aston Villa, with a game in hand, are in third on 36. Mikel Artet’as side travel to face Villa on Tuesday in a huge clash.

(Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)

FULL-TIME! Arsenal 2-1 Brighton

16:56 , Luke Baker

AND IT’S ALL OVER! Arsenal were brilliant to go 2-0 up through Martin Odegaard and an own goal, then it went to 2-1 thanks to Diego Gomez and things got nervy but they saw things out at the end and it’s another three points on the board!

The Gunners go back to the top of the Premier League and keep on rolling. Heading into a HUGE clash with Aston Villa on a three-game winning run

(AP)

Arsenal 2-1 Brighton, 90+3 mins

16:54 , Luke Baker

A lung-busting run down the right by Rice. How has he still got the energy? All the way to the byline but his cutback to Saka is blocked. Jesus then takes the ball into the corner.

Brighton throw men forward and are nearly caught out again, Martinelli flicks a header on and Saka looks clean through but Dunk somehow gets back and lunges in a block for a corner. Superb defending!

If Saka had scored VAR may have said he was just offside but we’ll never know. It’s all down the right end, from Arsenal’s point of view, anyway

Arsenal 2-1 Brighton, 90+1 mins

16:51 , Luke Baker

Appeals for a penalty from Arsenal as Kadioglu barges Jesus in the back trying to get on the end of a cross. Nothing doing says the ref and VAR agrees.

Just a corner, which comes to nothing.

Arsenal 2-1 Brighton, 89 mins

16:50 , Luke Baker

Arsenal trying to take the life out of the gap now and, to that end, Hincapie ponders a throw-in and is given a yellow card for time-wasting.

We’re now into five minutes of injury-time, not long for Brighton to get back in it now.

Arsenal 2-1 Brighton, 87 mins

16:47 , Luke Baker

Now Jesus does really well to work some space in the box but delays his shot for a second and Van Hecke gets a lunging block in.

Brighton with a couple of final changes to try and snatch an equaliser. Charalampos Kostoulas and Tommy Watson, two young guns, on for Gomez and Coppola

MISS! Arsenal 2-1 Brighton, 85 mins

16:45 , Luke Baker

A glorious chance to finish it for Arsenal - spurned! Saka away down the right, it’s a superb low ball intot he box and Martinelli runs on to it six yards out but balloons it over the bar.

Golden, golden chance. Will they rue it?

Arsenal 2-1 Brighton, 83 mins

16:43 , Luke Baker

Indeed, Martinelli is on for Trossard and immediately involved. He fizzes a ball into the box and Brighton have to scramble away.

It’s then great work by Jesus, who has looked lively since coming on, holding up the ball, bringing others in and Arsenal win the corner.

Saka plays it to the back post, Saka back into the danger zone but the Seagulls survive.

(Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arsenal 2-1 Brighton, 80 mins

16:40 , Luke Baker

Arsenal need to wrest back control of this game and try to kill it off with a third goal. They’re preparing another sub - it looks like Gabriel Martinelli preparing to come on, possibly for Trossard

SAVE! Arsenal 2-1 Brighton, 77 mins

16:39 , Luke Baker

OH MY WORD! WHAT A SAVE! It’s incredible from David Raya.

Lovely play by Brighton, a neat backheel and Minteh curls a shot that is destined for the top corner until Raya leaps to his right and fingertips it over the bar. Incredible.

The corner then causes issues as well and it’s just over the bar. Should be another corner but instead Arsenal are awarded a goal-kick. And Raya goes down to buy some breathing time, also allowing Arteta to send on some messages

Arsenal 2-1 Brighton, 74 mins

16:34 , Luke Baker

Great hold up play by Jesus, nice lay-off to Merino who fizzes a low ball across but Dunk slides brilliantly for a crucial block.

Will that Brighton goal that got them back in this game springboard them to an equaliser? They’re bringing on ex-Gunner Danny Welbeck, who replaces Jack Hisnhelwood. A polite round of applause for Welbeck from the Emirates faithful

Ayari hit the post (REUTERS)
And Gomez slotted in the rebound for Brighton (REUTERS)

Arsenal 2-1 Brighton, 70 mins

16:31 , Luke Baker

Biggest roar other than the goals today as Gabriel ends his injury absence by trotting on to the pitch. The Brazilian centre-back is such a key man for Arsenal.

Lewis-Skelly, who was booked for delaying a throw-in a minute ago, comes off, so presumably Hincapie will go out to left-back. Viktor Gyokeres also comes off, with recently fit-again Gabriel Jesus on in his place.

Arsenal 2-1 Brighton, 66 mins

16:27 , Luke Baker

Suddenly Brighton have their tails up. They come forward again and see two shots well blocked the red wall.

Arsenal need to settle again and it looks like Gabriel will be coming on to help with that aim

GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Brighton (Diego Gomez, 64 mins)

16:26 , Luke Baker

Well, well, well - cat meet pigeons! Brighton have done little during this match but, out of nowhere, they’re back in it!

Ayari cuts inside and fires a low shot that goes beyond Raya and clatters back off the post. Diego Gomez is there and produces a calm, first-time finish to make it 2-1. How will Arsenal respond?

SAVE! Arsenal 2-0 Brighton, 61 mins

16:21 , Luke Baker

Good strength and determination by Gyokeres to latch on to Odegaard’s ball over the top and hold off a defender. He strikes it well to the near post and it’s sharply pushed away by Verbruggen. Good hit.

Saka then surges forward, cuts inside and his shot is deflected behind for a corner, which is put right on top of the goalkeeper but he’s able to punch it away

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton, 58 mins

16:19 , Luke Baker

Things are getting a bit niggly now, Van Hecke and Merino tangle on the turf and it threatens to get out of hand but doesn’t.

Brighton need to find a way back into this contest after that Rutter own goal

(REUTERS)

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton, 55 mins

16:15 , Luke Baker

Coppola receives a yellow card as he slides on the slick turf and takes out Trossard. Maybe didn’t like some of the ex-Brighton man’s antics in the first half and lets him know...

GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Brighton (Georginio Rutter own goal, 53 mins)

16:14 , Luke Baker

And from that corner, Arsenal double their lead! Set-piece FC, Own Goal FC - call them what you will but the Gunners won’t care!

Rice whips the corner into the near post, Georginio Rutter tries to flick the ball away but only flicks it into his own net! Verbruggen helpless. And Arsenal have a deserved 2-0 lead

Arsenal 1-0 Brighton, 52 mins

16:13 , Luke Baker

Zubimendi, Merino and Trossard combine before the ball is laid off to Odegaard to strike first time and Ayari does well to lunge and block the ball for the corner.

Arsenal 1-0 Brighton, 51 mins

16:10 , Luke Baker

Is that a first shot for Brighton? It’s certainly more promising as they work it well down the right, Minteh, Wieffer and then Gomez who gets a shot away that is well held by Raya.

Arsenal quickly attack and Dunk brings down Saka on halfway, earning himself a yellow card.

Arsenal 1-0 Brighton, 48 mins

16:08 , Luke Baker

You feel it’s only a matter of time before Danny Welbeck is introduced from the bench for Brighton, providing he’s fit enough to play a significant part.

Arsenal pressuring the Seagulls early in the second half and Gyokeres closes down Van Hecke but is pulled up for a foul.

KICK-OFF! Arsenal 1-0 Brighton

16:06 , Luke Baker

Back underway in north London. Brighton, who were toothless in the first half, bring on Yankuba Minteh and Mats Wieffer at the break for the struggling De Cuyper, who was run ragged by Saka, and Gruda.

HALF-TIME! Arsenal 1-0 Brighton

15:50 , Luke Baker

And that’s the half-time whistle! A completely dominant first half from Arsenal, who lead through Martin Odegaard’s finish.

Honestly they could easily be two or three goals up - they’ve completely controlled this and Brighton have offered little. A much, much improved performance from the Gunners.

But will they regret only leading by a single goal?

(AP)

Arsenal 1-0 Brighton, 45+1 mins

15:48 , Luke Baker

Bart Vergbruggen’s heart will have been in his mouth there! A ball over the top, into the left channel and Verbruggen hares out of goal to the left touchline.

Gyokeres is there first, flicks the ball away and is clattered by Vergbruggen running full pelt. The Swedish striker crumples to the floor - that’s painful! The crowd are baying for a red card but it’s just yellow for the Brighton goalkeeper. Probably the right decision but that was risky!

The free-kick then sails harmlessly out for a goal-kick

SAVE! Arsenal 1-0 Brighton, 45 mins

15:46 , Luke Baker

This is carnage! Saka wins a corner, which he takes himself, and Brighton defend well. But then he wins the ball back and puts a ball across the six-yard box but no one there to get a touch.

The ball comes back in, Saka’s acrobatic volley is blocked, Merino hits a shot that Zubimendi backheels towards the corner and Verbruggen is down sharply to his right to claw the ball out. How is it not 2-0?! Arsenal peppering the Brighton goal

Arsenal 1-0 Brighton, 42 mins

15:43 , Luke Baker

Lewis-Skelly gets to the byline and cuts the ball back, Gyokeres then claims he’s fouled in the box and sits there appealing despite nothing being given. Brighton break and it takes a great slide tackle from Rice to hook the ball away and stop the danger. Great covering.

Arsenal 1-0 Brighton, 40 mins

15:41 , Luke Baker

Trossard charges forward on the counter, superb pace to get him towards the edge of the box, out to the left. He cuts back inside Kadioglu and gets his cross away to Rice, who has streamed forward at the far side of the box, but he doesn’t connect well with a left-footed volley and Brighton scramble away.

From the throw-in, Rice and Saka play a one-two, the emergency right-back cross to the back post and the ball just hits Gyokeres on the far edge of the six-yard box. If he takes a swing at the shot there, it would’ve been hard for Verbruggen to stop. He probably thinks Saliba, who is jumping just in front of him, will get a touch but doesn’t.

Arsenal 1-0 Brighton, 37 mins

15:38 , Luke Baker

Odegaard whips in a free-kick from the left but Brighton able to head clear. Then, down the other wing, Rice on the overlap has space but his first-time cross lofts a bit far and out for a goal-kick.

Saka still giving De Cuyper nightmares every time he touches the ball as well

(Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arsenal 1-0 Brighton, 33 mins

15:34 , Luke Baker

Brighton clinging on here. Odegaard fizzes a low past to Saka who runs at the Seagulls defence again. Cuts in on his left, as he loves to do, and takes a shot that Dunk just manages to take the sting out of with a trailing leg, so it loops up for Verbruggen.

The Gunners are purring and would love to increase their lead before half-time

Arsenal 1-0 Brighton, 31 mins

15:32 , Luke Baker

Saka really has De Cuyper’s number so far today. Lewis-Skelly with the ball over the top and Saka easily holds off the Brighton wing-back before fizzing a dangerous ball across the box that is sliced clear for a throw.

Then the ‘Oles’ rings round the Emirates as Trossard chops back once, twice, three times to run rings around Coppola. The fans loving it!

Arsenal 1-0 Brighton, 28 mins

15:30 , Luke Baker

Cheers round the Emirates and that’s because Gabriel is warming up on the sidelines. Arsenal fans delighted to see him back fit - he’s been badly missed

(Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arsenal 1-0 Brighton, 26 mins

15:27 , Luke Baker

Arsenal are in complete control at the moment. Trossard and Saka continually having a run at their full-backs and Brighton can’t get out of their own half. Poor Georginio Rutter looks incredibly isolated.

Ten touches in the opposition box for the Gunners, just one for Brighton.

Arsenal 1-0 Brighton, 22 mins

15:24 , Luke Baker

Kadioglu hares away down the right for Brighton and Gyokeres steps across to clatter him. Slightly fortunate to not get a yellow card.

Shortly after, Arsenal counter and Trossard has room on the right but his lofted ball into the box is nodded clear.

Arsenal 1-0 Brighton, 18 mins

15:20 , Luke Baker

This has been a much better performance so far from Arsenal and that Odegaard goal reflects their dominance.

Gruda clatters ex-Brighton man Troassard near halfway - that’ll sting!

This is the moment Odegaard put the Gunners ahead

(REUTERS)
(REUTERS)

GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Brighton (Martin Odegaard, 15 mins)

15:17 , Luke Baker

NOW ARSENAL LEAD! It comes from an Arsneal goal-kick as Verbruggen plays the ball out but Hincapie pressurises Gruda and nicks the ball away. Rice heads on to Saka and then draw defenders with an overlapping run.

Saka slips it inside to Martin Odegaard and the Norwegian rifles a low finish into the right corner. A well-disguised finish and a well-deserved lead!

Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 14 mins

15:15 , Luke Baker

We all know about Arsenal’s set-piece prowess. The corner is from the right, Arsenal’s players all run forward from the back stick and Saka curls the ball into the near post where Trossard flicks it on but over the bar.

The Gunners then recover the ball, Odegaard feeds Saka on the right, he shimmies inside and tries a patented curler into the far corner but it’s over the bar. Good from Arsenal though.

Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 12 mins

15:13 , Luke Baker

Mikel Arteta has a conversation with Saka on the sideline, relaying some instructions to his winger.

After a slightly frenetic opening, this game has settled down slightly. Although having said that, Saka and Rice combine well down the right and win a corner.

Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 8 mins

15:09 , Luke Baker

Brighton win the first corner of the match and float the cross towards the edge of the area but Rice nods away well. The emergency right-back doing his duty

(Getty Images)

SAVE! Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 4 mins

15:06 , Luke Baker

Arsenal are purring early on here! Saka absolutely skins De Cuyper on the right and cuts in, getting his shot away from a tight angle, forcing Verburggen to save at his near post.

A warning for the Seagulls

CHANCE! Arsenal 0-0 Brighton, 2 mins

15:05 , Luke Baker

Judging by the early going, Declan Rice is indeed lining up at right-back for Arsenal, certainly while the Gunners are out of possession.

And an early chance for Mikel Arteta’s men! Trossard lofts a ball forward from the elft flank, Dunk lets it bounce and it sits up for Gyokeres on the half-volley on the edge of the box.

But it’s an odd finish, he tries to gently place it and it softly goes straight to Verbruggen. The Swedish striker had to put his foot through that!

KICK-OFF! Arsenal 0-0 Brighton

15:01 , Luke Baker

Underway in north London. Can Arsenal keep grinding out victories?

Arsenal v Brighton teams

14:59 , Luke Baker

Only a minute or two until kick-off now, as the teams run out at the Emirates. Here’s a reminder of how they line up, now that Riccardo Calafiori is out following his warm-up injury and Myles Lewis-Skelly is in.

Arsenal XI: Raya; Rice, Saliba, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Zubimendi, Merino, Odegaard; Saka, Trossard, Gyokeres

Brighton XI: Verbruggen; Van Hecke, Dunk, Coppola; Kadioglu, Ayari, Hinshelwood, De Cuyper; Gruda, Gomez; Rutter

Festive cheer at the Emirates

14:56 , Luke Baker

Having successfully come through his busiest day of the year, Father Christmas has decided to pop down to the Emirates to watch Arsenal today. Fair play to the big fella, he deserves some downtime.

Does he still have some festive cheer remaining at the bottom of his sack for Gunners fans?

(Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)
(Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)
(Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)
(Getty Images)

BREAKING: Riccardo Calafori injured during warm-up

14:53 , Luke Baker

Dear, oh dear. Yet more bad news for Arsenal on the injury front as Riccardo Calafiori has injured himself in the warm-up and is forced out of the starting XI.

The Italian full-back limps off and will be replaced by Myles Lewis-Skelly in the side. We were debating whether Arsenal would be playing three or four at the back but surely Lewis-Skelly will play at left-back and perhaps Declan Rice fills in at right-back in a four. We shall soon see

Bukayo Saka says Arsenal paying little attention to Man City’s pursuit of them

14:44 , Luke Baker

Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka insists they are paying little attention to Manchester City’s pursuit of them after reclaiming top spot for Christmas for the third time in four years.

Having seen Pep Guardiola’s side briefly supplant them as Premier League leaders earlier in the day, the Gunners re-established their two-point advantage with a 1-0 victory at Everton last time out a few hours later.

City have now gone back above the Gunners after edging past Nottingham Forest 2-1 this lunchtime, so Mikel Arteta’s side will have to win again this afternoon to reclaim first place, not that Saka is worried.

“There weren’t really any emotions in it, we take them out. We focus on our job,” Saka said after the Everton victory.

“We are back on top of the table but we aren’t watching City too hard. We know if we win every week we will stay there. We are in control.”

Bukayo Saka says Arsenal paying little attention to Man City’s pursuit of them

Gabriel back on the bench

14:37 , Luke Baker

The return of Gabriel is absolutely huge of Arsenal. Only fit enough for the bench today but with crunch games ahead, having him as an option once again is massive.

(Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
(Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
(Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Mikel Arteta has ‘belief and confidence’ in Arsenal’s Premier League title bid

14:25 , Luke Baker

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta insisted being top at Christmas again gave him belief and confidence to finally turn that advantage into success.

For the third time in four previous years – and fifth in the competition’s history – the Gunners lead the Premier League on December 25, but they have yet to convert that into a title win.

The 1-0 victory at Everton last time out, courtesy of Viktor Gyokeres’ first-half penalty ensured they reclaimed top spot from Manchester City, who had overtaken them earlier in the day.

“It gives me belief and confidence: the level of performance and the consistency of that,” said Arteta.

“It is very difficult to do in this league so it means the team is consistently there. We enjoy the process of winning. We will have to go to difficult places and have difficult moments. We have dealt with a lot of things already and we are there.”

(Getty)

Brigthon team news: Welbeck on the bench as Rutter starts

14:10 , Luke Baker

There was a thought that Danny Welbeck might start against his former club, having recovered from a back issue, but he’s only on the bench as Georginio Rutter starts up top.

Captain Lewis Dunk is back in the starting XI after suspension, as is Paraguayan attacker Diego Gomez after the same reason for absence, while Diego Coppola starts in defence once again.

Brighton XI: Verbruggen; Van Hecke, Dunk, Coppola; Kadioglu, Ayari, Hinshelwood, De Cuyper; Gruda, Gomez; Rutter

Arsenal team news: Timber out, Gabriel on the bench

14:05 , Luke Baker

There’s more defensive woe for Arsenal with Jurrien Timber out injured after picking up an ankle issue towards the end of the Crystal Palace clash.

Piero Hincapie, who missed that clash with a knock of his own, is fit to start at least and talismanic centre-back Gabriel is fit enough to be back on the bench after a multiple-week absence. That’s huge for the Gunners.

There are only three recognised defenders in Arsenal’s starting XI - Hincapie, William Saliba and Riccardo Calafiori - so it will be interesting to see if one of the four midfielders, such as Martin Zubimendi, drop back, or if it’s three at the back.

Viktor Gyokeres keeps his place after his penalty at Everton last time out.

Arsenal XI: Raya; Saliba, Hincapie, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice, Merino, Odegaard; Saka, Trossard, Gyokeres

Arsenal v Brighton team news

13:57 , Luke Baker

The teams are out and there’s plenty of big news for us to dissect shortly

Team news imminent

13:43 , Luke Baker

We’ll find out how both sides line up in a couple of minutes’ time. Will Piero Hincapie be fit for Arsenal?

Last time out: Viktor Gyokeres gets early Christmas present as Arsenal overcome depleted Everton

13:32 , Luke Baker

Arsenal scraped a 1-0 victory over Everton in their most recent Premier League match to stay top of the pile but in unconvincing fashion

A happy Christmas and a happy anniversary for Mikel Arteta? In part, anyway. The Arsenal manager can testify from bitter experience that being the Christmas No 1 is no guarantee he will occupy top spot in May. But, six years to the day since his appointment, Arteta overcame a club he represented for six years.

For Viktor Gyokeres, the presents came from opponents and colleagues alike. A striker who needed a goal got his first in six games and just a second in 11 after two acts of generosity: from Jake O’Brien to concede a penalty, and his teammates to let him take it.

While Bukayo Saka has scored two spot-kicks this season, one with the summer signing on the pitch, Arsenal alternate between takers and this time, the Swede stepped up.

Read Richard Jolly’s full analysis of that clash:

Gyokeres gets early Christmas present as Arsenal overcome depleted Everton

Early Brighton team news

13:22 , Luke Baker

Meanwhile, Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler confirmed that as many as five first-team players could return for the clash at the Emirates.

Captain Lewis Dunk and midfielder Diego Gomez will return after suspensions, with Danny Welbeck set to return against his former club after a back issue. Mats Wieffer and Jan Paul van Hecke could also return, having missed the game against Sunderland.

Predicted Brighton XI: Verbruggen; Wieffer, Van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu; Ayari, Hinshelwood; Minteh, Gruda, Gomez, Welbeck

Danny Welbeck could be fit to return against Arsenal (Action Images via Reuters)

Early Arsenal team news

13:20 , Luke Baker

Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera and Gabriel all remain out injured for Arsenal, with Piero Hincapie likely to partner William Saliba in defence, if the Ecuadorian recovers from the knock that kept him out of their match with Crystal Palace in midweek.

Otherwise, Arteta is expected to return to his strongest team, having made a number of changes for the Carabao Cup clash against Palace.

Predicted Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Hincapie, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Trossard, Gyokeres

Arsenal face a wait on Piero Hincapie’s fitness (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Why is Arsenal v Brighton not on TV?

13:19 , Luke Baker

Arsenal v Brighton will kick off at 3pm GMT at the Emirates Stadium.

As the match is taking place during the 3pm Saturday blackout, it will not be televised live in the UK.

Sky Sports has the highlights of all Saturday 3pm kick-offs from 5:15pm GMT on their app and YouTube channel.

In addition, viewers in the UK can watch extended highlights of all of Saturday’s matches via BBC’s Match of the Day, which airs at 10:25pm GMT on Saturday night.

Why is Arsenal v Brighton not on TV? Team news and how to watch highlights

Arsenal v Brighton

13:15 , Luke Baker

Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of Arsenal v Brighton. Can the Gunners keep their place atop the Premier League pile?

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