Brighton v Arsenal live: Declan Rice starts as Premier League leaders face latest title challenge

The Premier League leaders kick off their latest test at the same time as title rivals Manchester City LiveupdatedSportFootballBrighton v Arsenal live: Declan Rice starts as Premier League leaders face latest title challengeThe Premier League leaders kick off their latest test at the same time as title rivals Manchester City Miguel Delaney at the Amex & Will CastleWednesday 04 March 2026 18:30 GMTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popoverA goal is a goal, doesn’t matter how it goes in - ArtetaArsenal face the latest test of their Premier League title challenge as they head to Brighton looking to ramp up the pressure on rivals Manchester City, who kick off at the same time. The Gunners take a five-point lead into tonight’s trip to the south coast, while City, who also have a game in hand, will be at home to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest. The build-up to this evening’s match has come amid a war of words over Arsenal’s set-piece tactics, and a debate over their wider use in the Premier League as a whole. The Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler has accused Arsenal of time-wasting, and criticised the time it takes for them to take a corner. In response, Mikel Arteta said he wants his team to score even more goals from set-pieces, following their two goals form corners in the 2-1 win over Chelsea. The Arsenal manager said he would have to check on Declan Rice’s fitness but confirmed he was feeling “much better” following a knock, resulting in him starting at the Amex Stadium.Follow live updates from Brighton v Arsenal in the Premier League, belowRecommended‘It’s gone too far’: How the Premier League fell into a moral panic over set-piecesThe unusual trend defining Arsenal and Man City’s Premier League title battleMikel Arteta issues defiant response to criticism of Arsenal’s reliance on cornersBrighton v Arsenal LIVE: Latest Premier League updates Brighton host Arsenal as leaders face latest title test | Kick-off 7:30pm, live on TNT Sports 2Gunners will be kicking off at same time as title rivals Man CityTeam news: Declan Rice passes late fitness test to start for Arsenal despite knock against ChelseaBrighton XI: Verbruggen; Wieffer, Van Hecke, Boscagli, Kadioglu; Hinshelwood, Baleba, Gross; Gomez, Rutter, MitomaArsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice, Eze; Saka, Gyokeres, MartinelliDanny Welbeck dropped as Brighton make three changesBrighton switch up the team that eked out a 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest on the weekend.Danny Welbeck scored the decisive goal in that clash but will not start against his former club, with Georginio Rutter leading the line.Veteran James Milner also moves to the bench in place of Carlos Baleba, while there is no signing of skipper Lewis Dunk in the squad, with Olivier Boscagli coming in at centre-back.Will Castle4 March 2026 18:28Declan Rice passes late fitness testDeclan Rice has been deemed fit to start for Arsenal despite picking up a knock against Chelsea.William Saliba, however, does not make the side after sustaining an issue against the Blues, so Mosquera starts alongside Gabriel in one of two changes from the win at the weekend. Gabriel Martinelli also comes in to start, with Leandro Trossard among the substitutes. Bukayo Saka captains the team in the absence of Martin Odegaard, making his 300th appearance for the Gunners.Will Castle4 March 2026 18:24CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS!Brighton XI: Verbruggen; Wieffer, Van Hecke, Boscagli, Kadioglu; Hinshelwood, Baleba, Gross; Gomez, Rutter, Mitoma.Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice, Eze; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli.Will Castle4 March 2026 18:17Brighton v Arsenal team news and line-upsWill be confirmed in the next few minutes... Jamie Braidwood4 March 2026 18:10Viktor Gyokeres returns to Brighton looking to continue away formViktor Gyokeres was on the books at Brighton for three years before never made a Premier League appearance for the Seagulls - now he returns as Arsneal’s No 9 and after finding some form on the road. According to Opta, the striker has been involved in six goals in his last seven away games for Arsenal in all competitions, having scored twice in the win at Tottenham. Viktor Gyokeres scored twice against Tottenham (John Walton/PA). (PA Wire)Jamie Braidwood4 March 2026 18:05‘It’s gone too far’: How the Premier League fell into a moral panic over set-piecesWith the grappling in the box from corners described as ‘over the top’ and as leaders Arsenal face criticism over their set-piece approach, how did the Premier League get here?‘It’s gone too far’: How the Premier League fell into a moral panic over set-pieces With the grappling in the box from corners described as ‘over the top’ and as leaders Arsenal face criticism over their set-piece approach, how did the Premier League get here? By Jamie BraidwoodJamie Braidwood4 March 2026 17:50Mikel Arteta issues defiant response to criticism of Arsenal’s reliance on cornersMikel Arteta has defiantly addressed the growing debate around set-pieces in modern football,