White Rat TV Football News: PREM: Brighton v Arsenal preview

Brighton v Arsenal preview

Arsenal face a Boxing Day trip to Brighton as they look to maintain their hunt for a top-four spot.

Unai Emery's men beat Burnley 3-1 at the weekend which moved them level on points with Chelsea in fourth.

The win over Burnley coincided with Mesut Ozil captaining the Gunners as he returned to the first-team fold after a spell in the wilderness.

He repaid the faith by playing a big part in the opening goal, finding Sead Kolasinac with a brilliant pass. Emery has a decision to make whether to keep Ozil in the team for the trip to the Amex.

"With his quality, he brings a lot to this team. He's very important for us as a captain and as a player," Kolasinac said.

"[Unfair criticism] is the case when you're a big star, like Mesut is. Of course there are always negative headlines but, as a team, we don't pay attention to them and Mesut doesn't either. That's what's most important. We're all behind Mesut - all the staff, all the players."

Brighton are looking to avoid a fourth straight defeat after being on the wrong end of results against Burnley, Chelsea and Bournemouth. They've never lost four successive league games in four years under the stewardship of Chris Hughton.

Shane Duffy will replace Lewis Dunk in central defence. Duffy is available after a three-match ban and steps in for his usual defensive partner Dunk, who is now suspended following his red card against Bournemouth.

Wingers Alireza Jahanbakhsh (hamstring) and Jose Izquierdo (knee) are still out injured.

Arsenal's defensive injury crisis is set to continue on Boxing Day with Unai Emery likely to be without as many as five players for the trip to Brighton.

Rob Holding (knee), Konstantinos Mavropanos (groin), Nacho Monreal (muscular) and Hector Bellerin (calf) are definitely out.

Emery will be hopeful that Shkodran Mustafi can shake off a hamstring issue but playing him would be a risk, while playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan (ankle) will also be assessed and striker Danny Welbeck (ankle) is a long-term absentee.