MX23RW : Thursday, January 16 08:12:33| >> :60:1654:1654:
[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
1Liverpool20145148202847
2Arsenal21127241192243
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest21125430201041
4Newcastle UnitedNewcastle21115537221538
5Chelsea21107441261537
6Manchester CityMan City2110563829935
7Aston Villa2110563132-135
8Bournemouth219753225734
9Fulham217953230230
10Brentford218494037328
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2061043029128
12West Ham UnitedWest Ham217592741-1426
13Tottenham HotspurSpurs21731143321124
14Crystal Palace215972328-524
15Manchester UnitedMan Utd206592328-523
16Everton203891526-1117
17Ipswich TownIpswich2037102035-1516
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2144133148-1716
19Leicester CityLeicester2135132346-2314
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!