Arsenal vs Brighton - LIVE!

Brighton & Hove Albion ended a seven-match winless run in the Premier League with a shock 2-1 victory at top-four chasing Arsenal on Saturday after Zambian midfielder Enock Mwepu scored one goal and created another.

The result left Arsenal fifth in the table on 54 points, behind Tottenham Hotspur on goal difference but having now played the same number of games. Brighton moved up to 11th with 37 points.

Mikel Arteta had to rejig the Arsenal starting lineup due to injuries and midfielder Granit Xhaka started at left back, a decision that gave Arsenal no control in midfield and no cohesion in attack in the first half.

Brighton opened the scoring when a long ball found Mwepu on Xhaka’s flank and with the Swiss international further upfield, Mwepu found space for a cutback to Leandro Trossard whose curling effort sailed past goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.

A change in formation gave Arsenal hope in the second half but it was quickly snuffed out when Mwepu drilled a half-volley from the edge of the box into the back of the net.

Martin Odegaard halved the deficit in the 89th minute with a hopeful long-range shot that took a wicked deflection and looped over goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to give Arsenal a lifeline, but Brighton held on

Follow all of the action LIVE with Standard Sport’s dedicated match coverage. James Robson will be providing expert analysis from the ground!

Arsenal vs Brighton latest news

• GOAL! Odegaard halves the deficit late on

• GOAL! Mwepu with a lovely finish

• DISALLOWED! Martinelli header ruled out for offside

• GOAL! Trossard gives Seagulls the lead

Arsenal FC 1 - 2 Brighton & Hove Albion FC

FT: Arsenal 1-2 Brighton

16:59 , Matt Verri

Brighton hold on!

Late charge from Arsenal isn’t enough - why didn’t they play like that for the whole match?

Really only started in stoppage time and that wasn’t going to get them the three points. Big blow to their top-four hopes.

16:57 , Matt Verri

90+4 mins: INCREDIBLE SAVE!

Nketiah’s header is absolutely brilliant but Sanchez somehow tips it behind for a corner. Up comes Ramsdale.

16:56 , Matt Verri

90+3 mins: Lokonga’s shot from distance, straight at Sanchez.

Arsenal back on the attack, Odegaard slides it wide for Saka. He slips at just the wrong time and the move breaks down.

16:53 , Matt Verri

90+1 mins: Six minutes added on.

It’s all Arsenal now! Saka’s shot is blocked from the edge of the area. Here come Arsenal again though...

GOAL! Arsenal 1-2 Brighton | Martin Odegaard 89'

16:51 , Matt Verri

WELL THEN!

Odegaard goes for goal from miles out, it flicks off Welbeck and loops beyond Sanchez into the far corner.

Game on?

16:50 , Matt Verri

88 mins: Free-kick for the Gunners... they’ve had two in this position already this afternoon.

Odegaard... HITS THE BAR! Nketiah from the rebound, off the bar again! That’s unbelievable. When it’s not your afternoon...

16:48 , Matt Verri

86 mins: Brilliant strike from Lokonga from distance.

Sanchez was scrambling at full stretch, don’t think he would have got there. Whistles past the post.

16:45 , Matt Verri

83 mins: BETTER!

Some pace fromt he Gunners, Nketiah starting the move and Saka then driving into the box.

Gets to the byline, cuts it back for Pepe who looks set to sweep it home but Dunk comes flying in to block.

16:44 , Matt Verri

82 mins: Lokonga joins the massive list of players to get a yellow card this afternoon.

Welbeck brings it forward, Lokonga swiftly comes across and hacks him down. Referee didn’t need to think about that one.

16:40 , Matt Verri

78 mins: Pepe cuts inside, looks for the far corner but the shot is charged down. Dribbles out for a corner.

Another terrible delivery. Comes back in from Pepe, Mac Alister hammers it away. Brighton look very solid with the lead.

16:36 , Matt Verri

74 mins: Arteta running out of time and options.

On comes Pepe, Martinelli comes off. Brazilian gave everything, Arsenal’s brightest player by a margin.

16:33 , Matt Verri

71 mins: Free-kick Arsenal in a great position. They need a goal back quickly.

Taken short and comes to nothing. What a waste.

James Robson at the Emirates

16:30 , Matt Verri

Arsenal caught out by the cutback again. It is a lack of concentration from the defenders and the midfield to keep leaving players in space like that.

Wonderful finish from Mwepu - but where are the red shirts?

GOAL! Arsenal 0-2 Brighton | Enock Mwepu 67'

16:29 , Matt Verri

IT’S TWO!

Stunning finish from Mwepu. Lovely move from Brighton, Trossard sets Caicedo free with a great flick.

He dinks it back to the edge of the box where Mwepu sweeps it home first time.

16:27 , Matt Verri

65 mins: Xhaka too strong in midfield for Mwepu... or not. Referee gives the free-kick.

Safe to say the home fans and the Arsenal players do not agree.

16:25 , Matt Verri

63 mins: Smith Rowe off, Nketiah on.

Big chance for Saka! Cross is headed out to him on the edge of the area. Never looked confident and he balloons the shot well over the bar.

16:23 , Matt Verri

61 mins: First one flicked out for Lacazette, so Brighton get another chance.

Dunk gets on the end of this one, comfortable save for Ramsdale though.

16:22 , Matt Verri

60 mins: The Gunners have pinned Brighton right back.

That is until Smith Rowe gives it away and Mwepu shows superb composure, nutmegging the Arsenal man and striding forward.

Played out wide to Cucurella, and it’s the Seagulls who have a corner this time.

16:20 , Matt Verri

58 mins: Arsenal will have another chance to produce from a corner.

Martinelli swings it in, headed away. Odegaard goes for goal from the rebound, easily blocked. Gunners keep the pressure on though and Cedric puts it back into the box... Bissouma heads it away for, you guessed it, a corner.

16:18 , Matt Verri

56 mins: Another Arsenal corner, but again Brighton deal with it. Sanchez off his line to claim.

Much more intensity from the Gunners, ball being moved quicker.

James Robson at the Emirates

16:16 , Matt Verri

Better from Arsenal this half. They are taking the game to Brighton and asking more questions than they did before the break. Still clear cut chances being created though - and Brighton are doing a good job of shutting them down by fair means or foul.

16:14 , Matt Verri

53 mins: Caicedo slides in this time, and the referee does give the foul. He also gets a yellow-card.

Martinelli playing left-back but there’s very little defensive work being done. Focus is all on getting forward.

16:12 , Matt Verri

50 mins: Saka pokes the ball past Veltman, goes to ground.

Free-kick given and yellow card shown.... to Saka. Referee deems it to have been a dive.

16:10 , Matt Verri

48 mins: Strong driving run from Lokonga and he wins Arsenal a free-kick in a great position.

Three players standing over it. It will be Cedric... straight into the wall.

Back underway!

16:08 , Matt Verri

Off and running again. Looks like Martinelli has dropped deeper and Xhaka has gone into midfield.

Some first-half stats...

16:03 , Matt Verri

54% possession, six shots, one on target for Arsenal in the first 45 minutes.

Brighton with five shots and also just the on target - it was that one that mattered though from Trossard.

Not the time of the season to slip up...

15:57 , Matt Verri

HT: Arsenal 0-1 Brighton

15:52 , Matt Verri

The Seagulls lead at the break through Trossard’s strike.

Arsenal thought they had an equaliser, but after a four-minute check VAR deemed Martinelli to have been offside.

On the whole it’s been poor from the Gunners again - they are stumbling at just the wrong time of the season.

James Robson at the Emirates

15:51 , Matt Verri

Arsenal thought they were back in it right on the stroke of half time. It was a mighty close call, but Martinelli is ruled offside and so Brighton lead at the break.

DISALLOWED!

15:51 , Matt Verri

A long, long check. VAR struggling to find a right angle with all the bodies in the box.

OFFSIDE! It’s been chalked off and Brighton survive.

15:48 , Matt Verri

Martinelli looks offside though... VAR checking.

Not sure this is going to stand.

GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Brighton | Gabriel Martinelli 45+2 mins

15:48 , Matt Verri

ARSENAL LEVEL RIGHT BEFORE THE BREAK!

Seconds to go until half-time. Brighton can’t clear the corner, Gabriel heads it back across the face of goal and Martinelli gets up well to nod home.

15:47 , Matt Verri

45+1 mins: Two minutes added on at the end of the half.

Martinelli tries to take on the whole defence himself, before laying it back to Xhaka. He swings the cross in, headed behind for another corner.

15:45 , Matt Verri

44 mins: Mwepu has another effort at goal, this time a much better chance but can’t take advantage.

Visitors look very comfortable on the ball - the complete opposite of the Gunners who have not got going at all.

15:43 , Matt Verri

42 mins: Smith Rowe down getting some treatment, so Arteta calls over his players for some animated instructions.

Back on, is Smith Rowe... but he doesn’t look particularly comfortable.

15:42 , Matt Verri

41 mins: Referee might have to bring out another yellow card in the second-half, this one is quickly filling up.

Gross this time slides in and brings down Lokonga who was driving forward. Easy decision.

Brighton win it back and Mwepu comes charging forward. Opts to try and lob Ramsdale for 40 yards - shot just about stayed in the stadium.

15:40 , Matt Verri

39 mins: Frustrations rapidly growing at the Emirates, not helped as Cucurella goes down and gets the decision.

Even more anger now, as the referee decides to show Odegaard a yellow card for the foul.

15:39 , Matt Verri

38 mins: NEARLY FOR ARSENAL!

Xhaka plays the ball into the box, Mwepu can’t control it and it runs perfectly into the path of Smith Rowe.

He takes a couple of touches before eventually shooting, Dunk slides in to block. Corner swung in, Arsenal want a penalty for handball... not going to get it.

15:37 , Matt Verri

36 mins: Cucurella lucky not to join his teammate in the book. Arteta not impressed.

Saka again looks to run with the ball and is cleaned out immediately. Brighton man had very little interest in getting the ball.

15:36 , Matt Verri

35 mins: Bissouma earns himself a yellow card, doesn’t bother to complain about that one either.

Saka looks to break for Arsenal and briefly has space, but the Brighton midfielder slides in with a dreadful challenge to bring him down.

15:35 , Matt Verri

34 mins: Xhaka has space 25 yards out, is urged to shoot and does so. Poor effort.

Arsenal fans might want to be a bit more careful with what they ask for when it comes to Xhaka and shooting...

15:32 , Matt Verri

31 mins: Arsenal need to keep getting the ball to Martinelli.

So dangerous when he gets it, another great cross finds Gabriel but he gets the header all wrong and Brighton can clear.

James Robson at the Emirates

15:31 , Matt Verri

And just like Brighton are in front. Horrible defending from Arsenal, with everyone ignoring Trossard, who was left in acres of space by simply checking his run into the box.

He still had plenty to do after Mwepu’s cutback - but superbly picked his spot, despite a crowd in the six yard box.

GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Brighton | Leandro Trossard 29'

15:30 , Matt Verri

BRIGHTON TAKE THE LEAD!

Just as Arsenal were starting to get a bit of control. Far too easy. Long ball lumped forward to Mwepu, who has so much space.

He cuts it back into the box, Trossard runs onto it and fires past Ramsdale.

James Robson at the Emirates

15:28 , Matt Verri

Arsenal are enjoying their best period now and should be ahead through Gabriel.

Saka’s inviting cross to the far post just needed to be headed on target - but Gabriel fired into the side netting.

Still, it’s more positive from the home side after such a dour opening 25 minutes.

15:27 , Matt Verri

26 mins: Free-kick now for the Gunners, Gabriel fouled by Cucurella who barges into the centre-back.

Arsenal want to take it quickly, referee pulls it back. Will be Saka to take at the second time of asking... SO CLOSE!

Superb cross to the back post, Gabriel can only head it into the side netting though.

15:26 , Matt Verri

25 mins: Much better from the Gunners!

Martinelli sparks them into life. Drives straight at the defence, great cut-back into the box... Smith Rowe and Saka both go for the same ball and get in each other’s way.

Eventually Saka gets a shot away, but the space has gone and it’s deflected behind for a corner. Cedric takes, Bissouma heads it out.

15:24 , Matt Verri

23 mins: Before the international break, Arsenal looked full of confidence and energy in attack.

No sign of that at Selhurst Park and again they’re struggling this afternoon. Odegaard has barely had a touch, while Saka hasn’t been able to get on the ball at all.

15:21 , Matt Verri

20 mins: Terrible pass from Lokonga, straight to Welbeck and Brighton can go back on the attack.

Veltman plays it long though to no-one in particular, White can head it away. Martinelli goes in slightly late on Veltman, free-kick for Brighton.

Painful minute for Veltman in more ways than one.

James Robson at the Emirates

15:20 , Matt Verri

Brighton have taken control. Arsenal’s passing is really scrappy and Brighton are picking up the pieces much better than Arteta’s side.

Still no real chances for either team though.

15:17 , Matt Verri

16 mins: Gabriel mops up a loose ball nicely and plays it back to Ramsdale.

Arsenal fans turn the noise up a level, trying to urge their side on. It’s been a slow start from the Gunners - offered almost nothing from an atacking perspective.

15:15 , Matt Verri

13 mins: File this one under ‘extremely ambitious’.

Brighton have another long spell of possession without making much progress. Bissouma loses patience and goes for goal from more than 30 yards out... miles over the bar.

15:12 , Matt Verri

11 mins: Brilliant work from White.

Mwepu has so much space to drive into through Arsenal’s midfield, which has disappeared. Heavy touch though, White swiftly rushes out and puts in a strong challenge.

Then wins the free-kick for good measure, to put an end to that brief scare.

James Robson at the Emirates

15:10 , Matt Verri

Not the most eventful opening here, with both sides feeling their way into the game.

Arsenal have looked at their best down the left, but not created anything of substance yet.

15:09 , Matt Verri

8 mins: Mwepu wins the free-kick off Gabriel.

Stays down for quite some time, before eventually getting to his feet. He then applauds the Arsenal fans who had offered some ironic cheers.

Martinelli gets back well to win the ball of Welbeck.

15:08 , Matt Verri

7 mins: Great corner whipped in, Martinelli makes the run to the near post and is inches away from getting on the end of it.

Sanchez off his line and does just about enough to palm it away. Xhaka then plays it into Lacazette, the Frenchman can’t control.

15:06 , Matt Verri

5 mins: Brighton enjoying plenty of possession early one, Arsenal happy enough to let the centre-backs have it.

Ball played down the line for Trossard who is in a lot of space, but it’s straight out of play.

15:04 , Matt Verri

3 mins: Good work from White to win the ball back for Arsenal.

As expected it’s Xhaka out at left-back for the Gunners this afternoon. Looks like he’ll be sitting pretty deep there too, unlikely to be bombing forward.

KICK-OFF!

15:01 , Matt Verri

We are underway at the Emirates!

14:58 , Matt Verri

Players are out onto the pitch at the Emirates... perfect day in London this afternoon.

Big performance needed from the Gunners after the shambles at Selhurst Park on Monday night.

14:55 , Matt Verri

Reminder that either a draw or a win this afternoon would lift Arsenal up into the top four.

Potentially short-lived though - Spurs in action later today against Aston Villa. Increasingly looking like a straight battle between the two north London sides.

The warm ups begin

14:50 , Jonathan Gorrie

Mikel Arteta on the decision to play Granit Xhaka at left-back

14:47 , Jonathan Gorrie

Aaron Ramsdale’s pre-match mesage

14:38 , Jonathan Gorrie

Arsenal squad correction

14:35 , Jonathan Gorrie

Brighton’s tribute to Moder

14:33 , Jonathan Gorrie

Manchester United lose at Everton!

14:29 , Jonathan Gorrie

Behind the scenes

14:13 , Jonathan Gorrie

Confirmed Brighton lineup

14:02 , Jonathan Gorrie

Confirmed Arsenal lineup

14:01 , Jonathan Gorrie

How will Nuno Tavares react to being hooked at Crystal Palace?

13:51 , Jonathan Gorrie

Arteta has called on the player to improve after speaking with Tavares.

“Obviously I speak with the players and I spoke with Nuno because I care a lot how they feel and we are here to help them, and make their careers better,” said Arteta.

“That was a decision that hurt him, obviously, but he understands that it was for the benefit of the team, that I believe it was for the benefit of the team, and he respects that.

“Now he needs to react on that situation, because it is a great opportunity to learn a lot in that period in your career.”

The Arsenal players arrive

13:40 , Jonathan Gorrie

Will Arsenal be busy in the transfer market?

13:30 , Jonathan Gorrie

Mikel Arteta is expecting so.

And asked if he expected a busy summer, Arteta said: “I am expecting so, yes.

“I think both competitions [the Champions League and Europa League] require a much larger squad because the amount of games you play is much bigger in both, so I don’t think [which you qualify for] makes a lot of difference or changes a lot.

You can read Simon Collings’ full report here.

Head to head (h2h) history and results

13:17 , Jonathan Gorrie

Arsenal wins: 14

Draws: 5

Brighton wins: 5

Prediction: Arsenal to win 1-0

13:09 , Jonathan Gorrie

Arsenal might be happy to play a Brighton side who look like they’re on the beach already.

Arsenal to win 1-0.

Brighton team news: Webster could return

12:59 , Jonathan Gorrie

Brighton could welcome back Adam Webster after the defender missed the last six games with a calf issue. Moses Caicedo is back in contention after illness, while Jakub Moder is a long-term absentee.

Arsenal team news: Lokonga to replace Partey

12:52 , Jonathan Gorrie

Arsenal will be without Partey after the midfielder sustained a thigh injuryat Palace. With Partey missing, Albert Sambi Lokonga should get a first start since January.

Without Tierney, Nuno Tavares will be hoping to keep his place in the team at left-back following his tough night at Selhurst Park.

Takehiro Tomiyasu is still absent as well with a calf issue and, as a result, Cedric Soares will keep his place at right-back.

How to follow today’s action

12:40 , Jonathan Gorrie

TV channel: With the game kicking off at 3pm BST, it will not be shown live due to the blackout across English football.

Highlights: Match of the Day, however, will show highlights when it airs on BBC One at 10.30pm BST on Saturday.

Live blog: You can keep up to date with all the action via Standard Sport’s live blog, with Simon Collings at the ground to provide expert analysis.

Welcome

Friday 8 April 2022 22:38 , Jonathan Gorrie

Good afternoon and welcome to Standard Sport’s dedicated coverage of Arsenal vs Brighton in the Premier League.

Kick-off at the Emirates Stadium is at 3pm BST.