Arsenal travel to Brighton this weekend looking to build on their impressive win at the Etihad last Sunday. The last time Arsenal played in Brighton it took a late Theo Walcott goal to ensure victory in a tight 2013 FA cup clash.
Getting into the fifth round of the cup is paramount for Arsenal at the moment with the FA cup their only realistic chance of winning silverware this season. In the last round Arsenal put in a routine performance to dispatch Hull and take their place in this round.
Its too early to say if the win at the Etihad was a turning point for Arsenal’s season, but it could provide the team with the belief to go on to have a successful second half of the season. With many key players coming back from injury, and fringe players such as Coquelin and Bellerin performing so well, Arsenal could be playing themselves into a bit of form.
Brighton on the other hand have had a torrid season to date. Currently on their third manager, Chris Hughton’s team are looking at a battle to avoid relegation, where previously a push for the play-offs would’ve been expected.
They have picked up ten points from their last five league games and had a surprising victory over Championship high flyers Brentford in the last round.
Injury News
The temptation must be for Wenger to look to rotate the side this weekend, giving opportunity to fringe and returning injured players to get some rare action. With key players Mesut Ozil and Theo Walcott back in the squad, Wenger has the opportunity for top quality rotation.
Oxlade-Chamberlain (pelvis) and Bellerin (ankle) both face late fitness tests while Danny Welbeck is a certain to miss the trip with his thigh injury.
Team Shape
Wenger clearly sees this as an opportunity to shuffle his pack, saying that many of the players on the bench at City will get an opportunity.
“There’s big competition at the moment for places in the team, and some players will have an opportunity to show that they are ready to play again”
In goal, Szcesney will likely have the opportunity to put the debacle at Southampton and the fall out from that game behind him and put in a good performance to keep the pressure on Ospina.
If Bellerin passes his late fitness test he should start at right-back, with Gibbs coming in for the impressive Monreal on the left. In the middle, given Koscielny’s well-known injury problems it makes sense that Chambers will come in instead to partner the captain Mertesacker.
The incredible rise of Francis Coquelin in recent weeks mean that he may be rested for tougher tests to come, giving Flamini a run out at the base of the midfield.
Cazorla and Ramsey will probably be rested giving Rosicky a run out and Ozil his first start since returning from injury. The next couple months could be crucial to Ozil’s Arsenal career, with Cazorla performing so fantastically well in the middle putting the pressure on him to perform.
Further forward Walcott will start with Campbell taking up the other wide position. Up front Wenger has a decision to make as to whether to start with Giroud or give Akpom the start that he is so desperate for. More than likely he will go for the Frenchman while hoping to give the young English striker some minutes in the second half.
Likely Line-Up
Szczesny, Chambers, Koscielny, Monreal, Gibbs, Flamini, Walcott, Ramsey, Ozil, Rosicky, Giroud
Prediction
With confidence high in the side at the moment, this weekend is the perfect opportunity for some fringe players to keep the momentum going.
Defeat on Sunday would be a huge blow for Arsenals season and undo all the great work from the victory at the Etihad. If the Gooners apply themselves and are focused on the task at hand, they should be able to come away with a comfortable victory. The consequences of an FA cup shock would be to derail a season just when it looked like it had made a big step to get back on track.
