Arsenal vs Brighton predictions: Gunners good enough to stay perfect

Aidan Perkins

Spotlight

Mikel Arteta's Arsenal side have started the new season well

- Arsenal have beaten Wolves and Aston Villa so far
- Brighton have seen off Everton and Manchester United
- Recommended bet: Arsenal to win and both teams to score

Two teams with perfect records so far go head-to-head at the Emirates when Arsenal host Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday.

The Gunners have recorded successive 2-0 wins over Wolves and Aston Villa to kick off the season in style, while Albion have also picked up a maximum six points after a 3-0 win at Everton and a 2-1 home victory over Manchester United.

Brighton come into the tough test after a much-changed side also won 4-0 in the Carabao Cup against Crawley on Tuesday as Fabian Hurzeler's time in charge of the south coast club has started brilliantly.

Team news

Arsenal could be unchanged from the side that won at Villa Park on Saturday, with Jurrien Timber set to be preferred at full-back to Oleksandr Zinchenko again.

Declan Rice, Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard should line up in midfield, with Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli up front, although Mikel Arteta could be tempted to bring in Leandro Trossard against his former club after he came off the bench to hit the opener against Villa.

Hurzeler, meanwhile, will largely revert back to the side that beat United last weekend, meaning in-form ex-Gunner Danny Welbeck will start up front.

Recent signing from Celtic, Matt O'Riley, picked up an ankle injury in the win over Crawley and is a major doubt.

The latest Arsenal vs Brighton odds are available on LiveScore Bet

The stats

Welbeck has caught the eye for Brighton early on in the season, scoring in both of their wins, while the former Arsenal man also got an assist in the 3-0 victory over Everton.

Arsenal won 2-0 at Villa on Saturday despite the hosts having more shots (11) than the Gunners' total of nine.

Arsenal did the double over the Seagulls last season with a 2-0 home win and 3-0 victory away, but Brighton had triumphed in the three previous games between the sides at the Emirates.

Fabian Hurzeler has enjoyed a dream start in charge of Brighton

Prediction

Arsenal have begun the season looking every inch title contenders again with two solid victories over Wolves and Villa.

In both games they have had to rely on goalkeeper David Raya making some excellent saves before demonstrating their ruthless attacking ability at the other end and they should make it three wins from three this weekend.

Havertz, Saka and Trossard have all bagged goals already, while some of the Gunners' other stand-out performers from last term – namely William Saliba, Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice – have wasted little time getting up to speed.

Despite keeping clean sheets in both matches, they have looked vulnerable at the back at times and Brighton, who have impressed going forward under new boss Hurzeler, should be able to get on the scoresheet at the Emirates, even if it is unlikely to be enough to prevent the visitors from slipping to their first defeat of the season.

Back Arsenal to win and both teams to score at 17/10 with LiveScore Bet.