Match Preview: Brighton vs Arsenal - FA Cup

One of the wonderful things about a cup competition is that you get to see a match between two teams that would not have otherwise played each other. While the top dogs tend to win at a canter, there have been many an upset in the FA cup which has always made the competition a wonderful thing to watch out for. And if Bradford City are the torch bearers this season in the League Cup, we could expect the same kind of giant killing acts from other lower league teams in the FA Cup as well.

The FA Cup
Brighton and Hove Albion vs Arsenal – 20:25 IST, ESPN
Venue: The Amex Stadium

This brings us nicely to tonight’s game between Arsenal and Brighton at the Amex Stadium. Normally, a game against one of the fabled big 4 would mean that all you could hope for was a good turn out to your stadium so that you can rake in some moolah. On the very odd occasion, you could hope to catch the big stars on an off day and pull off an upset. But Brighton can expect more than that in this game. Arsenal, as has been the case of late, is on a very inconsistent run of games. The start of the New Year hasn’t been great for the gunners, and while the resounding victory against West Ham would have lifted their spirits, it is still not enough for their fans to assume that this would be another victory in the bag.

Brighton and Hove Albion

Brighton, while they may have operated at a loss in the previous financial year, are looking at some good times. The club boasts the highest average attendance in the npower championship and has a long waiting list for season tickets, with more names being added regularly.

Brighton are one of the high fliers in the ever competitive Championship and currently occupy the 7th place in the table, with a good chance of finding a place in the promotion play offs. Their last 2 games were against recent premiership clubs Blackburn and Birmingham. They drew both games, which in itself is not an indicator as to what may happen tonight as both the clubs are a pale shadow of their premier league days. But it still is a sign that this is a team that cannot be taken lightly. More importantly, they knocked out Newcastle in the previous round, so they will be full of confidence.

Their manager, Gus Poyet, would be relishing the opportunity to face the gunners again, as the last time he came up against them, he was part of the Real Zaragoza team that knocked out Arsenal in the final of the Cup Winners Cup.

Recent Form: LWWDD. An interesting fact is that Brighton didn’t have a single win in October, did not lose a single game in November, couldn’t win any game in December and now are undefeated so far in January.

Injury News: Salton is a doubt for the game with an Achilles injury.

Arsenal

While Brighton may be overjoyed if they win the game and not too disheartened if they lose, this is a must win game for Arsenal. With the ’7 years without a trophy’ baton being used on the fans repeatedly, they will not take too kindly to another knockout from a lower league club, considering they already were eliminated by Bradford in the League Cup. After that disappointment, the FA cup now represents the only realistic chance of silverware for the club.

The league form of Arsenal has not been the best to talk about, and this makes it all the more important for them to get a win tonight. With a packed schedule and the Champions League games looming in the horizon, it is very important to make sure that they get a result tonight so that they don’t have to go through another replay.

Arsene Wenger has his work cut out and he owes it to the fans and his legacy to win a trophy, and win it soon. The fans are losing patience and this is a do-or-die season for the great man. But the problem has been the fact that the team does not turn up in the first half, concedes one or two silly goals, and then have their backs to the walls in the second half. While the second half performances have been inspiring, it is necessary to maintain the same tempo from the beginning to make sure that they win the game.

Recent Form: DLWLW

Injury News: Vermaelen and Coquelin have ankle injuries and so sit out, with Arteta and Fabianski already out injured. Gervinho is at the African Cup of Nations.

Prediction: Brighton 1-3 Arsenal