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Arsenal come off a confidence-boosting victory in the Premier league to an away tie against lower-league opposition, hoping to use the cup as a springboard to greater success. Unfortunately, they crashed out to Bradfo..... Never mind. Got confused. Doesn't help that the club Arsenal are facing begins with the letter B.

But the sentiment remains the same. Arsenal cannot afford to replicate their Jekyll and Hyde form of the season, where they can be swashbuckling one game and stale the next.

The FA Cup is Arsenal's only chance of silverware realistically this season and Brighton represent one hell of a banana skin.

Brighton

Brighton aren't your normal Championship outfit. Arsene Wenger has today acknowledged their 'Premier League style of play', building from the back, and under Gus Poyet they've staged giant-killings before.

Arsenal need to come out of the blocks quickly and operate at a fast pace, which Brighton won't be able match for long. No complacency, no handbrake, just professionalism. As long as that happens, and Arsenal don't switch off defensively, there shouldn't be much of an issue.

Team news and key players

Arsenal are without Thomas Vermaelen, Mikel Arteta and Francis Coquelin for the trip, though Abou Diaby and Tomas Rosicky return. The absence of the former two means Jack Wilshere could captain the side for the first of many times.

Laurent Koscielny will fill in for Vermaelen at the back.

Brighton welcome back defender Bruno and have no fresh injury worries.

Wilshere will need to be at his pass-picking best to get through the inevitable defensive wall, and Koscielny and Mertesacker can't afford to make mistakes. Really, Arsenal need to play like they can.

History

Arsenal have had the better of the exchanges with Brighton, winning nine and losing two of the 13 matches between the sides, eight of which were in the top-flight between 1979 and 1983. The Gunners hold a 100% record over the Seagulls in the FA Cup.

Arsenal have 99 FA cup defeats. Hopefully the 100th can wait until next season.

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Comments  

#7 Alan Radmall 2013-01-26 12:54
Any Arsenal 2nd team should send this outfit packing - easily. I'll back Arsenal to win by at least 2 goals. If they play like they did 2nd half against the Hammers - 4 goals.
Bumping them up to sound better than they are - is just lowering expectations.
Viva Gooners.
#6 Ayanyemi 2013-01-26 12:27
Quoting Lobster:
A few years ago we would expect an Arsenal u21 team to roll over Brighton, now we don't even trust our starting 11 to do the job. Sad times these

This is really a slap on our so called Team Arsenal.
+1 #5 olayemi ibidokun 2013-01-26 11:26
wenger is really making a mistake for not signing a striker
+1 #4 Peltonboy 2013-01-26 10:14
Let's just hope that AW takes it seriously and doesn't rest to many key players. I think he may be tempted to, but he must realise this is our one realistic chance of some silverware this season and take a measured approach.
#3 Ola 2013-01-26 08:36
That's is the point' and Wenger is scoping the fans and using is brain not to sign any player when we all know we have problems in our team. Well' I wish them good luck but I pity Arsene wenger.
+2 #2 williams 2013-01-26 08:34
Quoting Lobster:
A few years ago we would expect an Arsenal u21 team to roll over Brighton, now we don't even trust our starting 11 to do the job. Sad times these

It is really painful,
+3 #1 Lobster 2013-01-26 07:53
A few years ago we would expect an Arsenal u21 team to roll over Brighton, now we don't even trust our starting 11 to do the job. Sad times these