Arsenal v Brighton and Hove Albion; FA Cup Fourth Round Match Preview
The question everyone will be asking after the midweek slaughter of West Ham is – is this a return to some normalcy? Normal a subjective term for actually competing week in and week out. Arsenal have a chance to show that they are turning over a new leaf as it relates to consistent form when they travel up to Brighton to take on Brighton Hove Albion in the FA Cup 4th round tie.
The win in the midweek was impressive but we’ve seen too many times this season an impressive win followed by a flat let down. It’s the model of inconsistency that Gooners are worried about seeing today when they take the pitch. The big letdowns have happened against teams of various levels but the more galling let downs have been against lesser opponents.
Players have hinted that in previous ties, like against Bradford or Swansea, they’ve taken the field assuming they were going to win. That assumption led to pretty substandard performances.
Let’s be clear, with the FA Cup Arsenal’s only reasonable chance at silverware, there can be no such approach. If the team are serious about challenging for this cup, then whomever takes the pitch needs to understand that the same second half performance they showed against West Ham in the midweek needs to be on display from the time the first whistle blows.
“2nd half” Arsenal have been mighty impressive. Their current form in the second half if applied through the season and carried on for 90 mins of each game would actually have them at 45 points (13 W 8D 2L). Conversely if evil “1st half” Arsenal were to play a full 90 mins through 23 games Arsenal would be fighting off relegation at 28 points (5W 13D 5L). It’s a pretty telling tale of a team that no one seems to have a real good sense of.
The dichotomy two halves is perplexing and while Mikel Arteta suggests that Arsenal do come out intent to tire the opposition out in the first half it doesn’t take into account the stupid individual blunders that cost them leads and then a complete lackluster attempt by the team to catch up.
Whatever gear Arsenal are finding in the second half – and if we’re critical of the performances in the first half of games we must conversely praise for the second half – they need to find it from the get go.
Does it mean the likelihood of players being gassed before the end of the match. Possibly. But imagine opening a 3-1 lead or 3-0 lead in the first or controlling the match from the start? Not only is it likely that Arsenal would gas out but the way Arsenal move the ball around with success when they are showing their talent suggests that so would the opposition.
The time for part time playing is over. If Arsenal are really desirous for the FA Cup and for a run to Champion’s League qualification then the Jekyll and Hyde performances have to stop. Regardless of the lineup today – whether it’s a team of first teamers only (I doubt) or a mix of first teamers and fringe/reserve – the game needs to be a full on push to put it to bed early.
Anything less than that and we’ll be right back to where we before the demolition of West Ham.
As for today’s opponent, Wenger rightly places them on a pedestal. According to Michael Cox of Zonal Markgin Gus Poyet has them playing a flexible system that rotates between a 4-3-3 and 4-4-2 – without changing personnel. He does this to accommodate the opposition and it has done him well as Brighton are close to fighting for promotion from the Championship. They also did very well of taking the opportunity to get past 10 men Newcastle beating them 2-0 to advance to this round.
They like to play the ball out from the back and usually have lots of possession. The style and formation suggest that it will be an open game which hopefully Arsenal can take advantage of.
FA CUP FACTS (courtesy BBC Sport & Guardian):
Arsenal have not lost to a lower ranked side in the FA Cup since they were beaten by Sheffield United in 1996, a run of 33 games
Arsenal are the second most successful club in FA Cup history (10 time winners 7 time runner ups) have only fallen as early as the fourth round in two of the last 12 seasons and it was top-flight opposition that ejected Arsenal on both occasions.
Arsenal have had the better of the exchanges with Brighton, winning nine and losing two of the 13 matches between the sides, eight of which were in the top-flight between 1979 and 1983.
The Gunners hold a 100% record over the Seagulls in the FA Cup.
The London side won 2-0 away in the third round in 1935, repeated the result at Highbury in the fourth round in 1980 and were 2-1 fourth round victors in their most recent clash at the Goldstone Ground in 1988.
Injuries:
Arsenal: Arteta (calf), Coquelin (ankle), Fabianski (match fitness), Vermaelen (ankle), Gervinho (international duty)
Brighton: Saltor (doubt – Achilles)
Match Official:
Michael Oliver (FA Cup Matches 1 1Y 0R EPL 15 matches 40Y 1R)
Broadcast Information:
US: Fox Soccer Channel 10:00 AM EST
UK: BBC Radio 5 Live 15.00 GMT
YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 3
Brighton: 1
Projected Lineups:
