Mikel Arteta has praised Leandro Trossard's positive attitude despite his limited playing time, with his former club Brighton next up for Arsenal.

The Gunners' 3-1 win over Brentford on Wednesday saw them move up to second in the table, while another win on Saturday would move them to within three points of leaders Liverpool, who do not play until Sunday but still have a game in hand.

They are now on a nine-match unbeaten streak in the Premier League heading into the second half of the season but have seen injury problems start to pile up in recent weeks, including Saka, meaning Trossard could be set for a more steady run of games.

"Leo, I think in the last 12 months, has a lot more consistency, he's deserved that," Arteta said. "He's had a lot of competition in his position, so that's it. Raise the level.

"He plays at that level, he will play like anybody else, but he has the capacity to do something special in the final third.

"Leo, naturally, is a little bit of a moaner, but I like that because he's very competitive! That's why he comes on the pitch, he can make an impact because he's got that drive and hunger of 'I'm going to show you', but I love that about him."

Brighton, meanwhile, have slipped down to 10th in the table after a run of three consecutive draws, including a comeback in a 2-2 stalemate with Aston Villa last weekend.

In fact, they have failed to win any of their last seven games, with Fabian Hurzeler already overseeing nine draws in his 19 matches in charge.

After their bright start fizzled out towards the end of 2024, the German remained upbeat about their chances in the second half of the season.

"After a game like [the one against Villa] and no win for seven games, it's obviously disappointing for us, but we also have to see the positive things," he said of Brighton's season so far.

"We have high expectations of ourselves, but we're still in a development process and have to keep working hard."

Four of our favourite photos taken at @The_AmexStadium in ! pic.twitter.com/kPTILstVI8
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) December 31, 2024

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Brighton – Joao Pedro

Since the start of last season, Joao Pedro has more Premier League goals and assists combined than any other Brighton player (13 goals, eight assists).

His 13 goals are the most, while his eight assists are bettered only by the now departed Pascal Gross (10).

Arsenal – Kai Havertz

Bukayo Saka was directly involved in 28 Premier League goals for Arsenal in 2024 (15 goals, 13 assists), the most by a Gunners player in a single year since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in 2018 (23 goals, seven assists).

However, with him out of the team through injury, other players will be expected to step up to the plate, including Kai Havertz, who has scored in each of his last four Premier League games against Brighton, netting in all three against the Seagulls so far for Arsenal.

MATCH PREDICTION: ARSENAL WIN

Arsenal have won three of their last five Premier League games against Brighton (D1 L1), as many as they had in their first 10 against the Seagulls in the competition (D3 L4).

Having been unbeaten in five consecutive home league games against Arsenal between 1982 and 2020 (W4 D1), Brighton have now lost three of their last four against the Gunners (D1).

No side won more points in the Premier League in 2024 than Arsenal (85). Their 26 wins were their most in one year since 2004 (also 26), their 89 goals were their most since 1963 (112) and their 18 clean sheets were their most since 1999 (19).

However, Brighton have not lost their first league game in any of the last eight calendar years (W3 D5), since a 1-0 home loss to Wolves on New Year's Day 2016 in the Championship.

The Seagulls struggled for goals at home in 2024 though, scoring just 21 at the Amex in the Premier League, a drop of 25 goals from 2023 when they scored 46. They failed to score in six home games in 2024, having only failed to score in one in 2023.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Brighton – 20.2%

Draw – 21.2%

Arsenal – 58.6%