The first match of the Premier League weekend will see Arsenal take on Brighton & Hove Albion at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Both teams come into the clash having won their first two matches of the 2024-25 season. The Seagulls, under new boss Fabian Hurzeler, started their campaign with a 3-0 win over Everton and then stunned Manchester United 2-1.
They are chasing a third successive big scalp, but Arsenal had proved too good for Brighton twice last season.
While Mikel Arteta's side hasn't fully hit their stride yet, they’ve managed to beat two tough West Midlands teams so far. After a patchy first half, Arsenal dominated proceedings in the second to beat Aston Villa 2-0.
STREAM:Arsenal vs. Brighton LIVE on TNT Sports and discovery+ in the UK
The Sporting News looks at the key details ahead of this game, including how to watch the match, kickoff times, and the latest lineup news.
Arsenal vs. Brighton live stream, TV channel in UKHere's how to watch this Premier League match in the UK:
TV channel: TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports UltimateLive stream: Discovery+, Discovery+ AppThis game is available for live TV broadcast on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate. The streaming option is available on Discovery+, which also provides a FREE trial to all new members.
STREAM:Premier League action LIVE on TNT Sports and discovery+ in the UK
If this match is not available to watch live in your location or if you’re traveling abroad, you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPNs offer a secure and private online connection, allowing you to bypass geographical restrictions to access your favourite streaming services from any device anywhere in the world.
WATCH FROM ANYWHERE: Sign up for NordVPN (30-day moneyback guarantee)
This Premier League clash takes place at Emirates Stadium in London, England, and kicks off on Saturday, August 31 at 12:30 p.m. local time (BST).
Arsenal vs. Brighton lineups, team newsMikel Merino is likely to be included in the squad for his Arsenal debut and may come off the bench if needed. Gabriel Jesus, who missed the victory against Aston Villa due to a groin injury, remains doubtful for the upcoming match. Additionally, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney are unavailable.
With the transfer deadline approaching on Friday, both teams are expected to be active, with Eddie Nketiah and possibly Aaron Ramsdale among those who could be leaving Arsenal.
Brighton are aiming to give Ferdi Kadioglu his debut, though there are doubts about new signing Matt O’Riley, who was forced off in midweek during his first start.
Solly March is unavailable, but both Evan Ferguson and Pervis Estupinan are hopeful of playing, with the left-back having made a substitute appearance in the cup after returning from injury.
Brighton & Hove Albion predicted XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Steele (GK) — Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, Hinshelwood — Gilmour, Baleba — Minteh, Pedro, Mitoma — Welbeck.
Injured: March, Ferguson, Estupiñán
Suspended: N/A
Brighton is entertaining to watch, but defeating this Arsenal team will need more than just enjoyment. The Seagulls' strong defensive line and incapacity to manage the transition could allow the hosts to run wild at times this weekend.
Arsenal's performance this season has been fairly mediocre, but they may step it up on Saturday. Hurzeler's build-up philosophy and Brighton's attacking talent will make possession a problem for them, but the home team will enjoy much of the match on Saturday and secure their third victory of the season.
Prediction: Arsenal 3-1 Brighton
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Premier League fixture schedule this weekAll times BST
Saturday, August 31
Arsenal vs. Brighton (12:30 p.m.) Brentford vs. Southampton (3:00 p.m.) Everton vs. Bournemouth (3:00 p.m.) Ipswich Town vs. Fulham (3:00 p.m.) Leicester vs. Aston Villa (3:00 p.m.) Nottingham Forest vs. Wolverhampton (3:00 p.m.) West Ham vs. Man City (5:30 p.m.)Sunday, September 1
Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace (1:30 p.m.) Newcastle vs. Tottenham (1:30 p.m.) Man United vs. Liverpool (4:00 p.m.)