Arsenal will expect to maintain their title challenge with three points against Brighton this afternoon.

Mikel Arteta’s side went into Christmas on top of the Premier League for the third time in the past four years but the challenge for the Spaniard and his players is to convert that into a first title since 2003.

They have not been at their fluent best in recent weeks but have continued to pile on the points.

Brighton’s season has come off the rails a little with Saturday’s goalless draw with Sunderland their fourth game in succession without a victory.