On paper this is the easiest game Arsenal have in the Premier League over the next month. January brings a potentially season-defining run of matches against Newcastle, Tottenham and Manchester United once Brighton is out the way. The stats though, would suggest that this New Year's Eve clash on the south coast will be far from plain sailing.
Brighton have established themselves as a true bogey team for Arsenal in the past few seasons. In fact the Seagulls have beaten Arsenal more frequently (four times) than the other way around (three times).
With Manchester City approaching ominously over their shoulder, the Gunners know that they can't afford to drop any points. With that in mind it's crucial that Mikel Arteta picks a team capable of ending the year on a high.
