Arsenal vs Brighton Bet Builder Tips: Things could get tasty between Havertz & Van Hecke

Two of the four clubs to have made perfect starts to the 2024/25 Premier League season meet at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday (12:30, TNT Sports 1), as Arsenal host Brighton & Hove Albion.

Read on for my Arsenal vs Brighton bet builder tips as I draw up a four-legged 5/1 shot featuring a player from either side.

Arsenal vs Brighton Odds

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Jan Paul van Hecke 1+ Fouls

Brighton's summer of lavish spending has put several first-team players' starting spots under serious doubt, but one man who shouldn't be too fearful of losing his place is Dutch defender Jan Paul van Hecke, who has formed a formidable partnership at the heart of the Brighton backline alongside captain Lewis Dunk.

The 24-year-old, who established himself in England on loan at Blackburn Rovers a few seasons ago, has been rock-solid for the Seagulls and calm in possession.

However, he's also been susceptible to conceding free-kicks, making one foul in the opening-weekend win at Everton (0-3) and committing two in last Saturday's 2-1 victory over Manchester United. He averaged 0.5 fouls per game last season, and 0.9 in 2022/23. Up against Arsenal's Kai Havertz, who was felled three times in the Gunners' 2-0 victory over Fulham and once in last weekend's win by the same scoreline at Aston Villa, Van Hecke could be in another physical battle in north London, and backing him to make at least one foul is a good way to start this bet builder.

He made one foul the last time these sides met, a 3-0 victory for the Gunners at the Amex Stadium in April.

Kai Havertz 2+ Fouls

Speak of the devil, Havertz isn't just a foul-magnet - the Germany international gives away plenty of free-kicks himself.

Havertz averaged 1.3 fouls in the Premier League last season, making two against Brighton at the Emirates last December before making three on the south coast in April.

The 25-year-old has started the current campaign by making three against Wolves and four against Aston Villa, so two fouls on Saturday looks achievable.

Football Odds

Brighton Over 8.5 Shots

I was a tad disappointed in Brighton's first-half display against Manchester United last week as they struggled to assert any real dominance, finishing the first 45 minutes with just three shots taken. However, the Seagulls did take a lead into the interval through Danny Welbeck and came racing out of the blocks at the start of the second half, and really should have doubled their lead before the Red Devils equalised on the hour mark.

Undeterred, Fabian Hurzeler's charges ended the match strongly, and were rewarded for their efforts in the fifth minute of added time as Joao Pedro struck the winner. The Brazilian's strike was Brighton's 14th and final shot of the game, bringing up their 24th in this season's Premier League after registering 10 against Everton in their opening game.

Arsenal are certainly no Man United or Everton, and they very much pride themselves on having a strong defensive setup. However, they conceded 11 shots at Aston Villa last weekend, and nine at home to Wolves a week prior. The Gunners also allowed Brighton to take 10 shots in their most recent head-to-head.

I think nine shots for this attacking Seagulls side is very much achievable, especially if the north Londoners take an early lead.

Over 8.5 Total Corners

The fourth and final leg of this bet builder rests on corners, and there have been plenty of those between these two teams over the years. We need at least nine to land the above selection, and there have been over 8.5 corners in 14 of the 15 times Arsenal and Brighton have played each other since the latter's promotion to the Premier League in 2017.

April's match saw 15 awarded - eight for Brighton, seven for Arsenal - while the corresponding fixture at the Emirates last season ended with the Gunners having racked up 10 on their own, and the Seagulls taking a solitary one.

Offers

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