Wenger wary of Brighton attacking threat

 

Arsene Wenger has warned his Arsenal stars to beware of the goalscoring threat provided by Brighton and Hove Albion.

Arsenal will have to quell the attacking threat of Brighton and Hove Albion if they are to prevail in Sunday’s FA Cup fourth-round tie, according to manager Arsene Wenger.

The Frenchman watched on as his side eased past Hull City 2-0 in the previous round, in a re-run of the 2014 final.

Despite Brighton struggling in the lower reaches of the Championship this season, Wenger knows his team are in for a tough test at the Amex Stadium, having squeezed through 3-2 against the same opposition and at the same stage two years ago.

“We have to keep their strikers quiet,” he told the club’s official website. “In the cup, you have to be ready from the start on and people like that can always surprise you if you’re not ready.

“It’s always difficult in the Championship away from home. I remember it was a very difficult game two years ago against a team who were on the way up with Gus Poyet. We needed to dig deep to get out with a positive result.

“Chris Hughton will give them his experience and his competence, of course. He knows how to prepare a team for a challenge like this.

“For us the challenge is to turn up with the same spirit and show that we can be consistent with our attitude game by game.

“We know that it will be another big challenge for us to go there and come home with a positive result.”

Arsenal have lost just once in their last nine matches in all competitions, while their hosts have won four of their last five, including a 2-0 success at fellow Championship outfit Brentford in the previous round.

A 3-2 home win over high-flying Ipswich Town in midweek further lifted spirits around the club, and striker Sam Baldock – who scored the opening goal in that triumph – hopes the players can take that feel-good factor into Sunday’s clash.