MX23RW : Wednesday, January 8 23:18:35| >> :120:10100:10100:
[monks data]
Attendance: 30,608
Brighton logo
Premier League | Gameweek 19
Dec 26, 2018 at 5.15pm UK
 
Arsenal logo

1-1

Locadia (35')
FT(HT: 1-1)

Hughton hopes Brighton can replicate last season's 'breakthrough' Arsenal win

Hughton hopes Brighton can replicate last season's 'breakthrough' Arsenal win
© Reuters
Brighton have lost their last three matches.

Chris Hughton is hoping for a repeat of Brighton's "breakthrough" when Arsenal return to the Amex Stadium on Boxing Day.

Brighton ended their wait for a victory over one of the Premier League's top six last season when goals from Lewis Dunk and Glenn Murray secured a 2-1 home victory over the Gunners in March.

Now in their second Premier League campaign, the Seagulls have lost their last three matches and find themselves in need of some festive cheer.

And Hughton hopes the memories of that victory, a crucial one in their successful survival bid, will inspire his side.

"Having won promotion the summer beforehand, one thing we were very conscious of was how difficult it is to play against the top six," said the Seagulls boss at his pre-match press conference.

"It was a breakthrough for us. You look at pivotal moments in any season — one was getting our first win at the Amex, then our first away win and then our first win against a top-six team.

"We'd found it difficult – we played Manchester City on the first day of the season and that was a very tough game, and Chelsea was a difficult game as well.

"The Arsenal win was a fairly significant moment for us and one that we deserved."

Defeats to Burnley, Chelsea and Bournemouth may have dented confidence on the south coast but Hughton has backed his side to come through their testing schedule.

"When you're Brighton in the Premier League, only in your second season, every period for us is a tricky period. Every game that we play is a difficult game," he added.

"We're going through a period of games in a short period of time, and we'll have to play at a level to get something from the matches.

"For any tough period that you think you're going through, it's exactly the same for a huge number of other teams.

"We just need to make sure that we prepare ourselves in the best way we can and endeavour to get as many points as we can."

Shane Duffy returns from suspension against the Gunners but fellow centre-half Dunk serves a one-match ban.

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Press Association Sport staff');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', 'a39f7389-1356-4bfe-9896-5c666a9337f0');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Hughton hopes Brighton can replicate last season\u2019s \u2018breakthrough\u2019 Arsenal win'});

ID:345073: cacheID:345073:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4571:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Brighton & Hove Albion's Pascal Gross converts from the penalty spot against Manchester United's David de Gea on August 19, 2018
Read Next:
Gross laughs off Liverpool speculation
>
Read more about Chris Hughton Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool19144147192846
2Arsenal20117239182140
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest20124429191040
4Chelsea20106439241536
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle20105534221235
6Manchester CityMan City2010463627934
7Bournemouth209653023733
8Aston Villa209563032-232
9Fulham207943027330
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2061043029128
11Brentford208393835327
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs20731042301224
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd206592328-523
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham206592439-1523
15Crystal Palace204972128-721
16Everton193881525-1017
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2044123145-1416
18Ipswich TownIpswich2037102035-1516
19Leicester CityLeicester2035122344-2114
20Southampton2013161244-326


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!