Brighton vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Kai Havertz leads Gunners to top of table

Brighton are unbeaten in their last 14 matches in all competitions at the Amex Stadium (eight wins, six draws), a run stretching back to September.

Arsenal are unbeaten in their last three visits to Brighton with two wins and one draw. Each side has won five of the 13 Premier League meetings between Arsenal and Brighton.

Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi makes five changes to the team that played in midweek. In come Tariq Lamptey, Pervis Estupinan, Julio Enciso, Jakub Moder and Danny Welbeck.

They replace Joel Veltman, Igor Julio, Facundo Buonanotte, Adam Lallana and Joao Pedro, who all start on the bench.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta makes four changes for this evening’s match. Bukayo Saka is fit to start following his absence with a minor injury on Wednesday.

Declan Rice, Jorginho and Gabriel Jesus all also return to the starting line-up as Thomas Partey, Emile Smith Rowe and Leandro Trossard drop to the bench - while Reiss Nelson misses out.

Brighton XI: Verbruggen; Lamptey, Van Hecke, Dunk, Estupinan; Baleba, Gross; Enciso, Moder, Adingra; Welbeck

Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Jorginho, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Jesus

“I’m very pleased,” said Mikel Arteta when asked about how Kai Havertz has settled into the squad this season, “He’s got incredible qualities to occupy different spaces in the attacking phase, to threaten the goal, to link up play, and when you have to be more direct as well he’ll give you that layout.

“Not only that, but I also think his contribution defensively is outstanding for the team, with his work rate, and the effort he is putting in the high press especially. He’s got more to come, more games to come, he needs to improve the numbers and I’m sure he will try to do it.

“At this age, and he’s just started with us, it’s his first season, he’s building those relationships. He’s moving in those positions as well and he’s that good, and with the intelligent that he has he can be much better.”

Brighton boss, Roberto De Zerbi, says that he respects Mikel Arteta and the style of football he’s brought to Arsenal since taking over as manager.

“Mikel Arteta is a great manager,” De Zerbi said, “I have big respect for his job and his style is clear. They always play with big intensity and with courage.

“I think they will be aggressive, and they have a clear style with and without the ball. I think it will be a good game to watch.”

Arsenal managed to keep the pressure on Liverpool during the week with a 2-0 win over Luton. Mikel Arteta made a bunch of changes for the game but was impressed with how his team came together.

“I was obviously very pleased with the result and performance and the fact that everybody responded in the way that we expected,” said Arteta,

“When you make changes there is a possibility because they haven’t played that much but I think the boys were really good.”

Arsenal full back Oleksandr Zinchenko has revealed he would return to Ukraine to fight in the defence of his country if called up.

The 27-year-old has already donated £1m to help those back home following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Asked by BBC’s Newsnight whether he would answer a call-up, Zinchenko said: “I think it’s a clear answer. I would go.”

He said several of his former school friends had already joined the Ukrainian military.

Mikel Arteta’s side remain steady away from home and should continue their title challenge with a determined if unspectacular victory against a stubborn Brighton side.

Brighton 0-2 Arsenal.

With the fixtures of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City staggered by the television companies, the picture in the title race will evolve across every weekend remaining in the campaign.

Three points there will lift the defending champions over the Gunners, who then travel to the Amex Stadium to face Brighton in the evening kick-off (5.30pm, Sky Sports Main Event).

With Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday, a ground at which they were beaten just three weeks ago, this could be a massive weekend for Mikel Arteta and his title challengers. A win against the Seagulls and the Reds will be under real pressure against Manchester United.

Arsenal are overwhelming favourites in the Premier League odds to get the three points on the south coast, with the hosts available at a price of 9/2 to damage the Gunners’ title.