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Match analysis – Arsenal v Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton’s Danny Welbeck and Joao Pedro have kicked off the new campaign in razor sharp form, tormenting defenders in and out of possession.
The Seagulls strike duo ran rings around Everton on the opening weekend, before giving Manchester United’s defensive players an equally hard time last weekend.
Both men deservedly got their names on the scoresheet that afternoon, but they will have to raise their bar against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium this Saturday.
Arsenal’s best centre-back pairing in decades
Saliba and Gabriel are tall, powerful, quick, composed and both love to defend, which they often display by celebrating blocks, interventions and clearances. They are the bedrock of this Arsenal side.
Together they have helped Arsenal amass 30 clean sheets from 63 Premier League starts, so it is no surprise Mikel Arteta’s win percentage when they are both on the team sheet reads at 76 per cent.
No Arsenal centre-back pairing since the start of 2006/07 can match the defensive statistics produced since Gabriel teamed up with Saliba.
Arsenal’s best centre-back pairings since 06/07
| Partnership | Starts | Clean sheets (%) | Win % | Conceded/ match | Shots faced/ match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gabriel/ Saliba | 63 | 30 (48%) | 76% | 0.81 | 8.52 |
| Toure/ Gallas | 55 | 20 (36%) | 49% | 0.85 | 10.27 |
| Vermaelen/ Gallas | 26 | 9 (35%) | 62% | 1.15 | 10.61 |
| Koscielny/ Vermaelen | 36 | 9 (25%) | 53% | 1.14 | 9.81 |
| Koscielny/ Mertesacker | 110 | 46 (42%) | 61% | 0.97 | 10.82 |
*rotate on mobile devices to see in full
The only Gunners partnership that can top their clean sheet ratio is Gabriel Paulista’s brief 17-match spell alongside Laurent Koscielny.
In that period Arsenal achieved nine shutouts, or 53 per cent of their matches. Across every other defensive metric, Saliba and Gabriel are delivering all the best numbers.
To have any chance of causing them problems, Welbeck and Joao Pedro know they will need to serve up another mobile, energised display.
Targeting Gabriel
Arsenal’s Brazilian defender has been outstanding for the best part of two seasons, but on the ball he is more error-prone than Saliba.
Brighton, who are terrific pressers instigated by Welbeck and Joao Pedro’s endeavour, will close down with fiercer intensity when Gabriel has possession.
Last weekend at Villa Park (see below) Gabriel was robbed in a dangerous area by Leon Bailey, and it will be a surprise if the Seagulls do not try to manufacture a repeat.
Both of Brighton’s front men are averaging around 300 intensive runs apiece per 90 minutes.
Joao Pedro (who ran over 11km v Man Utd) has been particularly tigerish, with these two examples (below) a warning to Thomas Partey or Declan Rice that he will also drop in and hunt for turnovers in midfield.
Joao Pedro’s pressing
Avoiding Saliba
Kaoru Mitoma will be a great outlet for Brighton on the left wing, but whenever they produce direct attacks down the middle I expect them to raid on the other side.
Gabriel’s top speed so far this season is around the same mark as Brighton’s attackers, who will be unlikely to live with the acceleration of Saliba.
Fast breaks or turnovers represent the Seagulls’ best chance of becoming the first opponent to score against Arsenal in 2024/25.
Saliba/Gabriel and Joao Pedro/Welbeck’s top speed 24/25
| Player | Top speed (km/h) | Player | Top speed (km/h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Saliba | 33.59 | Joao Pedro | 30.63 |
| Gabriel Magalhaes | 30.14 | Danny Welbeck | 30.02 |
Holding the ball
What Brighton do have in their favour ahead of this stiff examination is a centre-forward who can hold the ball up with confidence.
This aspect of Welbeck’s play has shone brightly in the first two matches of the season, as he is excellent at picking which moments to battle his markers and when to pull off them to receive passes.
In fact, no striker in the division who has started both matches has given possession away less frequently than 33-year-old Welbeck.
Premier League forwards possession lost 24/25
| Player | Poss. lost |
|---|---|
| Danny Welbeck | 8 |
| Jean-Philippe Mateta | 9 |
| Rodrigo Muniz | 12 |
| Erling Haaland | 14 |
*Min 2 starts
His passing accuracy of 86.11 per cent is also the best of all Premier League strikers.
This quality allows supporting runners to join in with the build-up play.
Brighton can expect a bruising battle
Welbeck’s hold-up play will be put to the test by both Arsenal centre-backs though, who take great pride in winning their duels.
Gabriel is yet to lose an aerial duel, while Saliba has won a team-high 15 ground duels at a success rate of 71.4 per cent.
Even when Welbeck or Joao Pedro go short to receive forward passes, they will often feel either defender tightly marking them.
This example from Arsenal’s 2-0 win at Aston Villa shows Gabriel outmuscling Ollie Watkins deep inside his own half.
The prospect of a match between two sides that have won both opening matches is enticing enough, but this encounter is well worth watching to see who wins this key battleground alone.
Hurzeler’s forwards are well-drilled and performing with confidence, but one of the best defensive pairings we have seen in years stand in their way.
PREMIER LEAGUE