PREMIER League leaders Arsenal could lift themselves to nine points clear of third-placed Aston Villa over the course of their next two matches, or find themselves three points behind the Villans.
In either scenario, both teams would have to win their fixtures – with the second featuring a clash between the two at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.
Today though, both are down for what appear to be difficult assignments: Arsenal are at home to Brighton who sit in the top 10, and Villa are away to fourth-placed Chelsea.
The Gunners could be without a handful of players including Gabriel Martinelli, who limped off in the Carabao Cup win over Crystal Palace on Tuesday and is a doubt for the game.
So too is Piero Hincapie, who picked up a shoulder injury against Everton last weekend.
Kai Havertz, who has only just returned to training after four months on the sidelines, is also expected to miss the game today.
Arsenal’s ambitions will not be helped, either, by the confirmed absence of Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera and Gabriel Magalhaes.
In contrast, Brighton have fewer injury concerns and look a lot stronger on paper than they have in the past few weeks.
Danny Welbeck, Mats Wieffer and Jan Paul van Hecke could all return to action for the Seagulls.
They will however be without long-term absentees Solly March and Adam Webster.
Despite all this, Arsenal will still be expected to win the match – largely because of the huge resources they have in reserve.
But Brighton will be keen to put up a fight, and a good one at that.
They’ll also know that the Gunners will have one eye on the encounter with Villa next Tuesday. — By SHAUN ORANGE
