Key events
4 min: Gross sloppily plonks a pass from his goalkeeper out for a corner …
3 min: Mac Allister looks to release Caicedo down the Brighton right but he turns back inside and Albion opt to build from the back.
2 min: Odegaard seems fine to continue and is quickly back into the fray.
1 min: Martin Odegaard takes an early whack, Pervis Estupiñán’s attempted clearance crashing into his head from close range. He’ll need some treatment.
Peep! Off we go then!
On Sky’s commentary, Martin Tyler seems to be struggling a little with his voice. A bit croaky. But the Arsenal fans are in fine voice as kick off approaches.
Out they come into the hazy May sunshine. It was glorious an hour or so ago but a bit of light cloud has moved in. No rain expected until much later though.
The players are in the tunnel … Dunk and Odegaard ready to lead out their sides.
Across north London they’re into the final seconds at Wembley with Chelsea leading Manchester United 1-0 in the Women’s FA Cup final. Sarah Rendell has the latest:
The atmosphere is building at the Emirates …
It’s full time at Goodison: Everton 0-3 Manchester City. So Arsenal, realistically, need to win their final three games and hope City fail to win two of their last three. Hard to see that happening of course, but Arsenal will at least want to keep City honest.
The teams
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Ramsdale; White, Kiwior, Gabriel, Tierney; Jorginho, Xhaka; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Jesus. Subs: Turner, Holding, Walters, Partey, Vieira, Smith Rowe, Nelson, Trossard, Nketiah.
Brighton (4-2-3-1): Steele; Gross, Dunk, Colwill, Estupinan; Caicedo, Mac Allister; Mitoma, Gilmour, Enciso; Ferguson. Subs: McGill, Welbeck, Undav, Ayari, Van Hecke, Buonanotte, Offiah, Moran, Peupion.
So Kieran Tierney makes only his second Premier League start of 2023 for Arsenal. For Brighton Evan Ferguson is fit to start for the first time in five matches. He’s one of four changes for Albion from the Everton capitulation.
It’s already got a bit tasty at the Emirates …
Preamble
Forget the buildup to this one for a minute – all Arsenal eyes have been on Goodison Park this afternoon, where they’ve been desperate for a helping hand from Everton. It’s, um, not going well for them thus far.
But in a way the picture doesn’t really change – nothing but a win will do for Mikel Arteta’s side against a Brighton team, who, given results on Saturday, can take a huge step towards securing European football next season.
The Seagulls fell victim to the strangest result of bank holiday weekend last time out, getting hammered 5-1 by Everton at the Amex. That was their second home pasting of the season, with the other coming against today’s opponents in December when Arsenal ran out 4-2 winners on New Year’s Eve.
The Gunners were flying at that point and though their miserable April does look to have scuppered any hope of wresting the title from City, they have bounced back from the hammering they took at the Etihad with impressive wins against Chelsea and, in particular, away at Newcastle. Three more points will keep the title race alive for a week more at least.
Kick-off is at 4.30pm BST
