BREAKING: Arsenal host Brighton today, and I can confirm a major twist. Pervis Hincapié is back in Brighton’s matchday squad. That changes the tone of this clash. Arsenal are hunting points at the top. Brighton are grinding for a strong finish. The margins look razor thin, and the return of a high-level defender matters.
Kickoff and how to watch
The game is set at the Emirates, with a charged crowd expected. Arsenal’s home form has driven their title push. Brighton arrive with fresh steel in the back line.
- Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. UK, 11:30 a.m. ET
- Broadcast: Check your local Premier League rights holder. Official club channels carry live audio and match updates.
Referee: Michael Oliver. VAR in operation from Stockley Park.
Lineups drop 1 hour before kickoff. Set alerts if you track late fitness news or player props.
The tactical chessboard
Mikel Arteta will attack with width and speed. Bukayo Saka pulls markers to the right. Gabriel Martinelli runs at full speed on the left. Martin Odegaard connects the pieces, finding gaps between lines. Declan Rice gives balance in midfield, and he steps up when space opens.
Roberto De Zerbi gets a needed lift with Hincapié available. Expect the Ecuadorian to slot left of Lewis Dunk. That brings recovery pace to the heart of the defense. It also allows Pervis Estupiñán to push a few yards higher, when the moment is right. Brighton build from the back, but the first duty today is control. Arsenal’s press is sharp. A sloppy first touch can turn into a shot on your goal in seconds.
Arsenal often settle into a 3 plus 2 shape in possession. Ben White tucks inside next to William Saliba and Gabriel. Rice and a partner, often Kai Havertz drifting, manage the second line. Then the five attackers stretch the field. That overload on the last line stresses any back four. With Hincapié, Brighton gain speed and left-footed balance. It could be the difference in transition moments.
Team news and predicted XIs
I am told Arsenal will keep it stable unless there is a late knock. David Raya is the likely starter in goal. White, Saliba, and Gabriel are locks. Oleksandr Zinchenko is favored at left back for his passing. Rice should anchor midfield with Odegaard and Havertz ahead. Saka and Martinelli flank Gabriel Jesus, who links play and presses from the front.
Brighton’s decision is where to use Hincapié. The plan points to left center back next to Dunk. Joao Veltman should guard the right. Estupiñán stays at left back. In midfield, Billy Gilmour and Pascal Gross handle tempo and set pieces. Up front, Kaoru Mitoma brings direct running on the left. Simon Adingra stretches the right side. The number 9 is a choice between Evan Ferguson’s power and Joao Pedro’s movement.
Arsenal still manage a handful of longer term issues, but their core is intact. Brighton have rotated all season to manage knocks. The return of Hincapié gives them the option to tighten spacing and play a more compact block when needed.
Final XIs arrive 1 hour before kickoff. That is also when substitution benches confirm fitness whispers.
The match within the match
Saka against Estupiñán is a true test. Saka wants to cut inside for shots or slip passes. Estupiñán must decide when to engage and when to show him outside. On the other side, Martinelli versus Veltman is a pace battle. If Arsenal isolate that channel, danger follows.
Set pieces matter. Arsenal have size with Saliba and Gabriel. Brighton rely on Dunk and Hincapié to win first balls. Second balls could define the night. Watch for Rice lurking at the edge of the box.
In transition, Brighton’s first pass after a regain is vital. If Gross or Gilmour can find Mitoma early, Arsenal can be turned. If not, Arsenal’s counter press will pin Brighton in. That is tiring, and it swings the game late.
Culture, control, and the stakes
This is a meeting of ideas as much as talent. Arteta’s order against De Zerbi’s daring. Arsenal fans demand front-foot play and a clean sheet. Brighton’s away end embraces risk and clever rotations. The league table gives this match bite. A home win keeps pressure at the top. An away result would echo across the division.
The energy at the Emirates will be loud from the start. Arsenal want an early strike. Brighton will try to slow the rhythm, then hit in two or three passes. Hincapié’s inclusion signals intent to stand firm, then spring.
Final word
I can confirm the key detail of the day. Pervis Hincapié is in the squad, and Brighton brought their best armor. Arsenal have the firepower to crack any wall. This will come down to duels at the edges and decisions in the box. Buckle up. The whistle is near, and the stakes are clear.
