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Chris Sutton Urges Arsenal to Make Bukayo Saka Decision Ahead of Brighton Clash

Bukayo Saka Arsenal injury update

Former Celtic star Chris Sutton has requested Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to make Bukayo Saka the team’s default penalty-kick taker going forward. 

The BBC pundit also said that he was “annoyed” when Viktor Gyokeres scored the decisive penalty in the 1-0 win over Everton on Sunday.

Arsenal’s penalty record has improved under Arteta. They beat Crystal Palace 8-7 in a thrilling penalty shootout in the EFL Cup quarter-final on Tuesday.

However, Sutton is not happy with the current squad roles.

Sutton Makes Saka Request in His Arsenal vs Brighton Prediction

Leaders Arsenal will host Brighton & Hove Albion at the Emirates Stadium in their penultimate Premier League match of 2025.

If they win both matches (next one against Aston Villa), they will be a minimum of two points clear at the top of the league rankings.

In his BBC column, Sutton made a prediction for Arsenal vs Brighton, as well as an unorthodox request – to put Bukayo Saka on penalty duty.

He wrote:

“People are saying that Arsenal are wobbling, but I think they have had their wobble, really, when they scraped past Wolves.

“The Gunners won 1-0 at Everton last time out, and it was a bit of a battle, but they were up against a David Moyes side so I didn’t expect anything else.”

Sutton continued:

“My only criticism of Arsenal at the moment is that Viktor Gyokeres shouldn’t be taking their penalties – Bukayo Saka should, because he is in my Fantasy team. It really annoyed me to see Gyokeres scoring from the spot against the Toffees.

“It won’t be easy for them against Brighton, but I still think they should win this one.”

Brighton have dropped points in their last four Premier League matches (D 2, L 2) and, on paper, do not seem to be a match for the league leaders.

Sutton backed Arsenal to win, but did not predict an easy ride.

He concluded by adding:

“The Seagulls are such a strange team, and they are extremely difficult to predict.

“They have not won any of their past four games, but they pushed Liverpool all the way when I watched them at Anfield recently, and I think they will do the same here.”

Sutton’s prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Arsenal vs Brighton Head-to-Head Stats

Arsenal and Brighton have faced each other 33 times in all competitions. The Gunners have been much superior, having beaten the Seagulls 18 times and losing only on eight occasions. Seven games have ended all square.

They have already met once this season, in the EFL Cup. Arsenal came away with a comfortable 2-0 win. However, the North London club could not get the better of Brighton in their previous Premier League meeting at the Emirates. The game finished 1-1 in London.

Arsenal have not lost to Brighton in their previous five meetings (W 3, D 2).

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