Arsenal v Brighton: What managers said
By Joel Masibo, March 4, 2026After back-to-back London derby victories, Arsenal are on the road again when they head down to Brighton & Hove Albion for midweek Premier League action on Wednesday evening, March 4, 2026.
The Gunners are looking to extend their nine-game unbeaten run against a Seagulls side who have strung two successive wins together themselves, but have tasted defeat at Arsenal’s hands twice this season already, as Mikel Arteta’s men have eliminated them from the Carabao Cup before a 2-1 league success in December 2025.
Those results extended Arsenal’s unbeaten run against the Sussex side to six games, but with Manchester City in action at the same time as the Gunners, only a win will ensure the Emirates outfit maintains their five-point lead at the top of the table come full-time.
Brighton’s season in limbo
A superb start to the season saw the Seagulls soar as high as fifth heading into December, but a miserable run of form saw them record one league win in 13 matches as they plummeted down the table.
Having knocked Manchester United out of the FA Cup at Old Trafford, Liverpool ended their hopes in the fourth round, but with discontent rising on the south coast, Hurzeler has responded with victories in each of their last two games to stave off any threat of being sucked into a relegation battle.
A 2-0 win at Brentford was followed by a 2-1 success at home to Nottingham Forest, with Danny Welbeck netting in both matches to earn a new contract. Now, instead of looking nervously over their shoulders, there’s hope that a spell of form similar to their autumn exploits could see them in the fight for European qualification.
What managers said
Mikel Arteta: “They’re a very, very good side, the way they’re coached as well. They have a sequence of years with a very similar style and players that fit really, really well with what they want to do, and they really believe in what they do. So, they’re always a very tough opponent,”
“We’ve managed a lot of emotions over the last eight months. The deal from here until the end is that we’re going to have to do a lot of the things that have nothing to do with emotion as well. To continue to rehearse, and to hope to win what we want to win.”
Fabian Hurzeler: “We show the players who are not starting at the moment what they need to do to get back and most times it’s quite simple. It’s hard work. It’s showing it in every training session.
“That it was the wrong decision from the gaffer to put me on the bench, and I think that’s the attitude players need to have. They have to take responsibility. They have to accept the situation like it is and try to get out of it, together with our help.”
Team news
For Arsenal, Martin Odegaard missed the win against Chelsea on Sunday with a slight knee knock and continues to be monitored, while Declan Rice came off in the second half with a slight issue, but Arteta hopes he will recover, while David Raya is fine after needing on-field treatment.
Ben White is out with the muscle issue that has kept him out for the past couple of matches, while Mikel Merino is our only other injury concern after undergoing foot surgery.
Hurzeler has a relatively full squad to select from, should Yasin Ayari recover as expected from the shoulder injury that has kept him out for the past four weeks, and Mats Wieffer be fit and available despite going off in the win over Forest.
Stefanos Tzimas and Adam Webster are the only other players in the treatment room after they suffered long-term knee injuries, but James Milner is set to be rested.
Facts and stats
Brighton have won two of their last 11 Premier League matches against Arsenal, with both wins coming at Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last five Premier League visits to the Amex since a 2-1 loss in June 2020. In fact, they have lost just one of their nine games on the south coast across the last four seasons.