Mikel Arteta explains why he ‘admires a lot’ what Brighton have done

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ByMusa
December 26, 2025

Mikel Arteta reflected on the challenge of Arsenal playing against Brighton.

The Gunners drew 1-1 in their two meetings with the south coast club last season in the Premier League and were on the wrong end of a red card call at the Emirates Stadium. History would indicate that the league leaders should be the favourites against an outfit that have struggled for points in December under Fabian Hurzeler, but Arteta approaches this fixture with full respect.

Indeed, the Seagulls sat in the top five at the start of the month, and they could be bringing Danny Welbeck back to his old stomping ground as the team’s top scorer in the league this campaign.

“It is a club that I admire a lot – and what they’ve done over the last 10 years is incredible. They have had different managers, and now Fabian has come in and brought some very different ideas as well. A lot of energy, a really, really committed team, and they look very, very together. They have a lot of quality, they can play in different ways, they have versatile players, so it will be a tough match.

“Well, we need to obviously prepare for what is coming, but at least tonight and tomorrow I will have some time with my family that are here. And there is time to enjoy, there is time to work, and enjoy the pleasure and the opportunity that we have to be playing at this level, in this country, with the history that we have here.

“I remember well [the Declan Rice red card]. I was very hacked off in the manner that we played with ten men. So hopefully it is going to be very different this time. I think the rules are different now. We paid a big price with that rule, and hopefully that stays away, and we can play with 11 players.”