Arsenal will put their perfect start to the 2026/27 campaign on the line when they travel to the Amex Stadium to face Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday afternoon, September 19, 2026.
Mikel Arteta’s side have won all seven of their matches across competitions this season and are chasing a 10th consecutive Premier League victory. Another success on the south coast would also see the Gunners match a club record for the most wins at the beginning of a season, a feat first achieved in 1903.
Arsenal have enjoyed a strong recent record at Brighton after initially struggling at the Amex. They have not been beaten at the Seagulls’ home since 2020, although the hosts enter this encounter in impressive form.
https://www.facebook.com/officialbhafcas one of the most prolific attacking teams in the Premier League this season. They currently sit fifth and have scored 13 goals in the league, with nine coming in their two victories over Aston Villa and Coventry City.
Fabian Hurzeler’s team opened the campaign with a 4-0 triumph against Villa before producing another commanding display in a 5-0 victory over Coventry last weekend. They also scored three times in a 4-3 defeat to Chelsea and drew 1-1 with Leeds at the Amex.
Their attacking approach has also been evident in cup competition. Brighton overturned a 2-0 half-time deficit to defeat Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup, becoming the first visiting team since May 1984 to win there after trailing at the interval.
Arteta acknowledged the difficulty of completing four consecutive away fixtures but praised his players for their response.
“[Four successive away games] is one of the challenges of the schedule, and the team has responded so well by playing with dominance. It doesn’t really matter if we play at home or away, we want to be the same team and we want to cause the same kind of problems to the opposition.
“We have managed to win the three games, and we’ve got the last one against a really tough opponent, and we’ll try to do the same. I have huge respect for Fabian; what he’s done and what Brighton have done as a club, it’s just remarkable. Tomorrow is going to be a beautiful game to watch.”
Hurzeler, meanwhile, believes Brighton’s success has been built on discipline, hard work and attention to detail.
“I believe the basic things brought us here; the hard work, the non-negotiables, the small margins. Everyone knows their role and everyone knows that we can only compete with the best if we all do everything at the highest level. That’s the message that we try to reinforce.
“It is a new season now – [Arsenal] have started very impressively and they are maybe the best team in England – so it is our challenge to compete with them by focusing on the game and playing our style of play. I do believe we have a chance to win this game.”
Arsenal are expected to have Ben White available despite the defender being substituted at half-time against Sunderland. Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie have also returned to training, providing Arteta with additional defensive options.
William Saliba remains unavailable as he continues his recovery from a back injury.
Brighton have considerably more injury concerns, with several players sidelined. Femi Azeez and Michael Svoboda are yet to make appearances since joining the club, while Zadok Yohanna has missed the last four league matches.
Yankuba Minteh is expected to remain out until November following surgery on a leg injury sustained during pre-season. Mats Wieffer and Stefanos Tzimas are dealing with knee problems, while Jack Hinshelwood and Evan Ferguson have ankle injuries.
Kaoru Mitoma is also still recovering from the hamstring problem that kept him out of the World Cup. Luka Vuskovic and Jaouen Hadjam, however, are expected to recover from knocks picked up against Manchester United.
Brighton’s aggressive pressing game could provide Arsenal with a demanding test. The Seagulls have recorded 41 high turnovers, the most in the Premier League, while their ability to win possession high up the pitch has been a key feature of their performances.
Arsenal will need to deal with Brighton’s midfield pressure while attempting to exploit spaces behind their defensive line. The hosts have conceded four goals in a single match this season, against Chelsea, suggesting there could be opportunities for Arteta’s attackers if they successfully bypass the press.
Pascal Gross is among Brighton’s key players and has created 11 chances from open play, matching Martin Odegaard’s tally. Maxim de Cuyper has also impressed during the opening weeks and has contributed directly to four goals in all competitions.
Arsenal have gone six Premier League matches without defeat against Brighton, recording four wins and two draws since their 3-0 home loss in May 2023.
Brighton, meanwhile, have lost only once in their last six league games at the Amex, winning four and scoring at least twice in each of those victories.
The Gunners are also aiming for a fifth straight Premier League away victory under Arteta. Bukayo Saka will be one to watch, having contributed three goals and two assists in six league appearances away to Brighton. He has also scored during each of his last three visits to the Amex.
Kai Havertz has four goals and one assist in eight league games against Brighton, while Odegaard has scored three times against the Seagulls in the competition.
Darren England will referee Saturday’s encounter, with Scott Ledger and Alistair Nelson serving as his assistants. Michael Salisbury is the fourth official, while Tim Wood will oversee VAR with James Mainwaring assisting.
Arsenal’s most recent visit to Brighton ended in a narrow 1-0 victory, with Saka scoring early to secure three points that proved important in their title-winning campaign.
The Gunners had previously drawn 1-1 at the Amex in January 2025 after Nwaneri put them ahead before Joao Pedro converted a penalty. In April 2024, Arsenal produced a more comfortable 3-0 victory through goals from Saka, Havertz and Leandro Trossard.
