Arsenal hosts Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday in a match-up that has consequence on both ends of the table. The Gunners are still holding out hope of leapfrogging arch-rivals Chelsea for the fourth position in the table, and ths avoid a third straight season of Europa League football
They might find that the easier route back into the Champions League would be to win the current Europa League tournament. For Brighton, they are four points ahead of Cardiff City in the race for the final safety position in the table, and a result here could clinch it. Let’s take a look at the fitness situation for both sides.
Laurent Koscielny is expected to be available despite his being subbed off in the win over Valencia this past week due to fatigue.
Otherwise there are no new injury concerns for the north London side. They will, however, be without their long-term injury absentees Rob Holding, Hector Bellerín, Denis Suarez and Danny Welbeck. We also learned this week that Juventus bound midfielder Aaron Ramsey is shut down for what is left of the season.
Flipping over to the Seagulls, winger Jose Izquierdo has seen his issue with knee cartilage damage reoccur, and he’s thus unavailable.
Meanwhile Davy Propper remains out due to a hamstring problem.
Arsenal vs Brighton & Hove Albion FYIs
Kickoff- Sunday May 5, Emirates Stadium 4:30 pm
Arsenal starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Form guide: Arsenal LLLWL Brighton DLDLL
Google Result Probability: Arsenal win 67%, Draw 21%, Brighton win 12%
Prediction: Arsenal 2, Brighton 1
I wouldn’t feel safe picking the Gunners on the road against anyone these days, but I have good faith in predicting a W for them here at home against a side that’s close to the drop zone.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, also contributes to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.