Arsenal face a massive trio of games in the space of a week as Unai Emery’s first season at the Emirates Stadium draws to a close.
The Gunners beat Valencia 3-1 in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday evening and are now preparing for their final home match of the campaign, as they host Brighton and Hove Albion tomorrow (Sunday).
Arsenal need a victory to keep chase with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in the fight for a top-four finish and Champions League football next season, with three pundits fancying their chances of beating the relegation-threatened Seagulls.
That would see the race for a spot in Europe’s elite competition being decided on the final weekend, where Arsenal travel to Burnley after their midweek trip to Spain for their second leg with Valencia, but they should be feeling confident.
Here’s what the pundits had to say about Arsenal ahead of Sunday’s clash.
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BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson - Arsenal 2-0 Brighton
Arsenal's recent performances in the league have been very poor, as bad as anything we have seen from them in the past five years. Defensively they are probably the worst they have been for a while, no matter who Unai Emery brings into the team.
Away from home they remind me of the latter seasons when Arsene Wenger was there and they would go to places such as Stoke and get turned over, and you never fancied them. The problem now is that you don't fancy them anywhere on the road - every fixture looks difficult for them.
At Emirates Stadium, things are usually much better. I know they lost to Crystal Palace in their previous home league game, but I would still fancy them to beat Brighton. The Seagulls couldn't put two passes together in the first half against Newcastle but they were much better in the second half and could have ended up going on to win the game.
I was at the Amex Stadium and I was impressed by Brighton midfielder Solly March when he came on for the second half. He really lifted the crowd and the whole atmosphere too. It is going to be very hard for them at Arsenal but I think the Seagulls will be safe anyway, because I do not see Cardiff getting six points from their final two games.
If the Bluebirds get four points, which I don't see happening either, then the Seagulls' goal difference will still keep them up.
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Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson - Arsenal 3-0 Brighton
If Cardiff have already won, it's panic time for Brighton. I can't see anything but an Arsenal win, they need to win to keep the pressure on.
Brighton are very fortunate - they stuck in there against Newcastle and got a result, but it could've been very different in that game. They weren't in it for long stages.
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BetVictor columnist Michael Owen - Arsenal win
Brighton have lost all 11 of their Premier League away games by an aggregate score of 2-23 against the “big six” sides, and it is hard to make a case for them at the Emirates on Sunday. The Gunners were in Europa League action against Valencia on Thursday, but they cannot take their eye off the ball as they look to end the campaign in the top four.
The Seagulls’ point against Newcastle last weekend is likely to preserve their PL status, but they are without a win in their last seven. Arsenal are hardly in a rich vein of form themselves, having lost their last three league games, but they should sign-off their home league campaign in style.
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You've seen what the pundits have predicted for this weekend, now it's time to have your say!
This week's Footie5 matches: Bournemouth v Spurs, West Ham vs Southampton, Wolves vs Fulham, Cardiff City vs Crystal Palace, Newcastle vs Liverpool
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