MX23RW : Sunday, December 22 19:18:50| >> :120:3761:3761:
[monks data]
Attendance: 60,164
Arsenal logo
Premier League | Gameweek 15
Dec 5, 2019 at 8.15pm UK
 
Brighton logo

1-2

Lacazette (50')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Webster (36'), Maupay (80')

How Arsenal could line up against Brighton & Hove Albion

Sports Mole looks at how Arsenal could line up for Thursday's Premier League clash with Brighton & Hove Albion at the Emirates.

Freddie Ljungberg will take charge of his first home game as Arsenal interim manager when the Gunners meet Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Thursday night.

The former midfielder oversaw a 2-2 draw with Norwich City on Sunday during his first game in the dugout.

Supporters will expect the North London side, now without a win in eight games, to produce greater verve and precision in the final third against Graham Potter's men.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Ljungberg could line up his side for this fixture.


POSSIBLE ARS XI v BRI

Out: Dani Ceballos (thigh)
Doubtful: Hector Bellerin (thigh), Rob Holding (knee)

> Click here to view Arsenal's full list of injuries and suspensions ahead of Thursday's encounter

Ljungberg will be expected to name a team that attacks boldly and with cohesion, but a more pressing issue for the Gunners comes at the back, with the club's last clean sheet coming on October 6.

In that sense, the manager will be desperate to reintroduce Kieran Tierney, who only made the bench against Norwich City due to a knock but looks set for a return to the starting XI on Thursday.

David Luiz and Shkodran Mustafi are hardly an ideal pairing, but Ljungberg has recently made it clear that he wanted to show faith in the duo and give them time to form a connection on the pitch.

Lucas Torreira was a player whose stock went down under Emery, with the Spaniard criticising the player for failing to fulfil the demands of a more advanced attacking role when the Uruguayan wanted to play deeper.

Despite being benched against Norwich, the midfielder could be given a chance to impress at the Emirates in his more favoured deep-lying midfield role.

The anchoring presence of Granit Xhaka, back in the Premier League fold after his banishing to the bench under Emery, will enable Torreira to make passes from deep into the final third for the attacking quartet to capitalise on.

Another player given a vote of confidence by their new boss is Mesut Ozil, who made just his fifth Premier League appearance of the season at Carrow Road having never really earned the trust of Emery. Games like these, against opponents who sit back, provide a perfect platform for the German can demonstrate what he can do.

Further forward, the struggling Nicolas Pepe will not get a chance from the start, with Ljungberg instead entrusting attacking duo Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette - 14 goals between them in the league so far this term - with the task of leading Arsenal's attacking threat against the Seagulls.

ID:381566: cacheID:381566:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5744:
Written by
Leo Nieboer
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Freddie Ljungberg pictured on November 27, 2019
Read Next:
David Luiz, Hector Bellerin doubtful for Freddie Ljungberg's first game
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Lions
@
Bears
6pm
Browns
@
Bengals
6pm
Patriots
@
Bills
6pm
Titans
@
Colts
6pm
Giants
@
Falcons
6pm
Rams
@
Jets
6pm
Cardinals
@
Panthers
6pm
Eagles
@
Washington
9.05pm
Vikings
@
Seahawks
9.25pm
49ers
@
Dolphins
9.25pm
Jags
@
Raiders
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool16123137162139
2Chelsea17105237191835
3Arsenal1796234161833
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest179442319431
5Bournemouth178452721628
6Aston Villa178452626028
7Manchester CityMan City178362925427
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle177552721626
9Fulham176742422225
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1772839251423
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
15Everton163761421-716
16Crystal Palace173771826-816
17Leicester CityLeicester173592137-1614
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1733112740-1312
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1713131136-256


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!