Brighton v Arsenal – Match Day

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Match Day

I was certainly not gonna miss the last post of this year. Interestingly, the game starts at 11 PM for us Indian Gooners and a win today would mean we enter into the 2023 with a win, top of the table and with a hope that we might just make it this season. Bang!

Right, it goes without saying that Brighton is a very drilled team and visiting them is a tough task not just for us but for any team. We have only won once against them at their home in our last 5 encounters, losing twice and sharing points on the other two occasions. The other fact that goes against us is that we only have managed to win twice on New Year eve in the past, in ’88 and 2011 in our last 7 games. Can we break the curse? Of course we can, we are high in confidence, we are in form and we just beat the shit of West Ham.

A good run of games lets you not lose your confidence and allows you to strive irrespective of the bad moments. Against West Ham, Will Saliba gave away a penalty and we were 1-0 down. We managed to win that game at the end and no one remembers that mistake. We have seen how bad these scenarios gets, with Mustafi and Luiz in the past. The fans are behind the team, they have been singing and ignoring the odd mistakes and this instils a confidence in the players.

There’s not much changes to the availability except that Tomiyasu is back in contention. I doubt he will get into the starting XI though, with Ben White making that RB position his own. Zinchenko might start ahead of Tierney and that gives a better attacking set up on the left side.

Mikel, when asked about Brighton reiterated about how tough it is to visit them.

It is always a really difficult and tricky game. They have a lot of individual quality, a lot of composure on the ball. They are a team that are really aggressive and they will ask some big questions. We’ll need to be at a really high level to win the game.

source: Arsenal.com

So yeah, come on Mikel and team, give us something to cheer for next few days. Lets thrash them at their home, lets keep that 5 point lead from City and keep our TOP OF THE TABLE mood.

I would be back during the game, can’t miss today even if my other half will be furious.

And, thanks a lot to my readers. What started as a personal diary has somewhat become a place for few of us Gooners to meet. When I started I didn’t imaging it will go through to its second year with 100+ articles and 2k+ comments. As they say, onwards and upwards. For both AFC and LiR.

Hope you have a happy new year!

Ambarish K

Hi there! I am an Engineer by profession & Gunner for life.

79 thoughts on “Brighton v Arsenal – Match Day”

  2. Hi Marc
    From the last stream. I take your point but Brighton don’t have a secret magic formula for beating us or anyone else. We have a better team than them, a superior bench and a manager who has been in the job longer and has more experience in the PL (fingers crossed). Moreover, it’s the fucking Amex on the shandy drinking South Coast, not Anfield, Elland or the so-called theatre of dreams all of which can be intimidating on their day. As a club, I think we underestimate confidence and controlled aggression. Back in the day, Tony, Rocky, Wright and Steve Williams etc. would not be sweating over a game in Brighton of all places. And nor would fans. We’re top and we need to go there and show some energy, commitment and just a bit of swagger, then get the technical ability out of the box and dominate them.

    I can imagine Arteta right now sitting in some poncey Holiday Inn just off the M23 crapping himself. Steve Round mopping his fevered brow with a tissue. Games like this should be easy to instill the qualities I set out above. The training and players’ confidence should then be enough. None of that fucking hand rubbing, big brain big heart bollocks… We’re the fucking Arsenal.

    I’m going for a 2-0. Early and late goals with just one or two wobbles. Tony’s going for a 3-1. What’s your call mate?

    I’m also keeping my hopes pinned for you Gooners in India too. The timing couldn’t be better.

  3. Does tonight’s team pick itself, ie the 11 against WH, or might he opt for a bit of rotation?

    I think Brighton have some big names out through injury and suspension.

    It would be great if some of those people who read LiR but don’t often contribute chip in tonight.

    Now that I’m not going to Blackburn, tonight I’m gonna party like it’s 19-99.

  4. Divyanshu
    I couldn’t agree more mate. I hope it’s a top night for Arsenal fans everywhere. Are you watching it with friends? I’m sitting down to see it at home in Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 with my children, all of whom are gradually becoming bigger Gooners than me. You got a score prediction?

  5. Kroenkephobe
    I hope, the score is 2-1 and Arsenal make us happy tonight…finger crossed 🤞

  6. Brighton are no joke, but we should secure the 3 points so long as the tactics are on point and we find a way to be more clinical in front of goal…Sanchez is clearly on an upward trajectory, who’s size and aggressiveness will cause us some real concerns if we don’t bring our A1 shooting boots, which certainly isn’t a given…on a side note, for the love of God, can someone please provide some sort of reasonable insight about the “struggles” ESR has faced throughout most of this season….it’s really rather baffling, especially considering the somewhat contradictory reports that have been offered up…Happy New Year to one and all

  7. Zinchenko is back, we have our best playing XI on the field minus Jesus

    Ramsdale
    White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko
    Odegaard, Partey, Xhaka
    Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli

  10. which is a rather substantial “minus” Ambarish, as Eddie is nowhere near GJ’s level….that said, this is the kind of team Eddie could get some chances on the counter….of course, I can only hope we’re not playing on the counter, unless we’re up by a couple goals and it’s late on in the match

  11. TRVL

    A tough away but we should win ideally. However, seeing City dropping points against Everton means anything can happen.

    Hopefully we do what’s needed.

    1-0 to the boys.

  12. TRVL

    Yep it’s an important one, but I do feel Eddie does the job. He is not that brilliant in tight spaces like Jesus but he scores.

    Everton did us a favor. I’m happy with that result but a lot nervous now for our game.

    #COYG

  15. Citeh’s game is like robots playing in a sequence. Highly technical robots.

    I prefer Klopps’ version any day. Even Artera ball looks better at times.

  23. Some good tactics tonight. Our front line not pressing Brighton’s CBs because their distribution is so poor. Means we’re tighter without the ball. Boys are working very hard.

  25. Kp,

    Yes, except for the odd 5 min when Brighton pressed us, we looked in control of the game in the first half.

    Lets do it for another 45 min.

  28. Arteta is definitely getting the luck with teams who are usually much better just not playing well.

    I really was expecting a much tougher test, we have now the chance to rotate / rest / give a few players a run out with Newcastle on Tuesday.

  31. Kroenkephobe
    I said 2-1 but in this match…2+1 = 3
    And we’ve 40 min more to fun…😉

  34. Brighton fans leaving. Oh dear. This is what I meant earlier.

    I’m not saying I’ve got 20/20 hindsight but this is what ought to happen when we’re up against the likes of Brighton. It’s the natural order of things.

    That said Divyanshu – you realise you’ve brought the team good luck tonight 🍀. It means you’re going to have to get on LiR every time we play for the rest of the season.

  37. Unwanted stats in this match till now…6 yellow card and total 6 goal…what a coincidence…😉

  40. My arse let out a minor squeak there. Some things to work on when defending a lead, but a well deserved win. Very happy new year everyone.

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