Arsenal vs Brighton Predictions- Pundits Lawro, Shearer, Merson back Gunners to win

The first Premier League game in GW3 this weekend sees Arsenal host Brighton and Hove Albion at the Emirates Stadium. Both sides are unbeaten as on GW2, and will be looking to maintain their 100% record. Here is what the pundits feel.

Paul Merson

Merson thinks a win is an “absolute necessity” for the Gunners, and thought they nicked a win off Villa last weekend, with AVFC being the better side in the second half.

Merson adds that while Hurzeler has made a dream start to his life as BHAFC Albion and that his side will make it tough for the Gunners, Mikel Arteta’s men will have “just enough” to come away with all three points. Has gone for a 2-1 Arsenal win.

Chris Sutton

At the BBC, Sutton thinks Arsenal’s GW2 victory was a “bit of a statement” because Villa had done a home and away league double over them in 23/24.

Adds that Brighton are “brave” and “will back themselves” but Arsenal, with home advantage, should win 2-0.

Read more

New Champions League format draw- Whom will the Premier League clubs be facing in the group stage?

The Champions League returns this year with a radically different format, one that sees each team play EIGHT group games. The 8 will be split into four home games and four away ones, but you don’t play the same team home and away- instead there are 8 different group opponents.

The group stage in 24/25 has 36 teams this year (up from 32 in previous years), and the table will be one big, combined log. Teams that finish 1-8 will directly progress to the knockout stages, while 9-24 will face each other in a playoff. 25-36 will be eliminated from Europe altogether (no EL for them)

Premier League opponents in UCL this year (2024/2025)

Man City (Home): Inter, Brugge, Feyenoord, Sparta
Man City (Away): PSG, Juventus, Sporting Lisbon, Slovan Bratislava

Liverpool (Home): Real Madrid, Leverkusen, Lille, Bologna
Liverpool (Away): Leipzig, AC Milan, PSV, Girona

Arsenal (Home): PSG, Shakhtar, Dinamo Zagreb, Monaco
Arsenal (Away): Inter, Atalanta, Sporting Lisbon, Girona

Liverpool appear to have the toughest draw on paper, although City have some tricky fixtures away from home. Arsenal have a very winnable fixture list.

Read more

Lee Carsley’s first England squad 2024- What are the changes from Southgate’s Euro 2024 one?

New interim England manager Lee Carsley has announced his first Three Lions squad for their upcoming fixtures against Ireland and Finland. There are quite a few changes from England’s last squad- the Euro 2024 one by Gareth Southgate, which reached the finals of the Championships before losing to Spain.

Out from England Euro 2024 squad: Aaron Ramsdale, Kyle Walker, Luke Shaw, Jude Bellingham, Kieran Trippier, Lewis Dunk, Joe Gomez, Ivan Toney, Adam Wharton

Note- out includes retired/injured/not selected

New names/inclusions in Carsley squad not present in Euro roster: Nick Pope, Levi Colwill, Toni Livramento, Rico Lewis, Harry Maguire, Angel Gomes, Morgan Gibbs-White, Jack Grealish and Noni Madueke

First ever England call-ups for Gomes, Gibbs-White, Livramento and Madueke.

Read more