MATCH DAY BLOG: BRIGHTON BLUSTER, CAN IT UPSET ARSENAL RUN?
Yeah, so what, I liked YouTube boxing for a little bit. It was quite fun. A thought experiment in how dumb the average consumer could be (me), and let me tell you, we were quite dumb.
There was a guy called Dillon Danis, a friend of Conor McGregor, a middling fighter with a minor reputation, who managed to wrangle a fight with Logan Paul. The hype was immense, the shit-talking was spectacularly personal, even for the fighting game, I actually think the pre-fight commentary was unscripted, because it was so severe.
Could a Jiu-Jitsu fighter beat a man way bigger than him at boxing?
No. He could not. This big talker was losing heavily and tried a disqualifying move to get an undignified exit; he faded into irrelevance after that, all for $400k that probably lasted him 12 minutes.
Why do I mention this? Fabian Hürzeler entered the ring with Arteta and was beaten so badly, his hair fell out. The media trying to draw ‘rivalry’ over someone who isn’t on the level is preposterous. There’s no rivalry. This manager is not in the same universe of talent. Arteta is a 200-pound fighter taking on a wrestler with a big mouth, the rest of the fighting world has little time for.
The Brighton game comes at a good time for Arsenal because, you know, we’re winning all the games at the moment. It’s also an end-of-summer game, so we’ll have no sea wind to contend with, there will be no freezing temperatures, and Arsenal will be in a sunshine Eze kind of mood.
Brighton are no mugs, they have taken some big scalps this season, hammering Villa 4-0, spanking United 3-2 after going 2 goals down, and they also OBLITERATED Coventry. They’re creating 2.57 xG per game. Pascal Groß, a fantasy football darling, has 3 goals and 3 assists in 7 games so far this season. The 35-year-old is coming into his prime at just the right time to maybe get a move to Chelsea next season, so expect trouble.
Where does the data make me feel sexy? They’re 16th in the league for xG conceded. This is a team that has similar ideals to Arsenal, high press, conservative, low risk-takers… but they don’t have a BEAST defence. You’ll get chances against them.
This is one of those games you’d be blessed to escape with a 1-0 win. They’re good at home.
9 wins, 6 draws, 4 losses from 19 home games, scoring 30 and conceding 20 (goal difference +10)
The small stadium with the fans close to the pitch makes it a fortress by the standards of a team that finished an impressive 8th. Also worth noting they beat City last season (August 2025).
If you’re not at your best, you’ll get pecked by the Seagulls, as they say, and no one wants that.
This is the final game before the players break. The long, extended break of three weeks, and the way coaches are helping clubs by giving them rests, kind of means we’re likely to see the team Arteta thinks is the best based on form.
The team is strong. Bruno takes over in midfield, playing with Rice, and based on form, why not?
Tzolis is the preferred choice in the left, again. Eze is going to have to work some miracles.
Havertz, the Ketchup KING, retains his place despite food abominations.
We finally get Timber and Calafiori starting.
Too early for Benny B to return, but Dowman retains his place in the squad!
We expect a tough game, but based on form, I’m expecting a 1-0 win.
Ok, that’s the game day post, we’ll see you after for a delicious helping of On The Whistle. So please, if you’re not a member and you want the full podcast live, then get a membership right now.