Brighton vs. Arsenal: Issues and Decisions That Will Shape FA Cup Game

Arsenal will continue their FA Cup defense this weekend against Brighton, in a match that will seem familiar to many of Arsenal's seasoned veterans.

That is because, almost exactly two years ago, the Gunners traveled to southern England to face Brighton and won 3-2 on the back of an Olivier Giroud brace and Theo Walcott's 85th-minute winner.

Those two very well might start again, along with a mixed group of rotational players and consistent starters. Arsene Wenger has quite a few interesting decisions to make regarding who he plays and how the team is set up, considering Arsenal's depth in various positions.

Let's take a look at some of them here.

How Good Will Mesut Ozil Be?

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Getting back into the starting XI on a consistent basis will not be very easy for Mesut Ozil following his recent return from injury. That is unequivocally positive, as it will, for the first time in the German's Arsenal career, force him to be at his very best in order to play.

His chief competitor is Santi Cazorla, who Arsene Wenger said in his pre-match press conference (via The Mirror) "is in the best form of his career," and is "technically perfect."

Cazorla will likely be rested against Brighton, giving Ozil the chance to shine against lower-league opposition. While he might not have the club's best weapons in front of him, he'll know that he will have to perform like someone who is worth £42.5 million.

What Will Arsenal's Defense Look Like?

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Arsene Wenger confirmed that Arsenal are chasing Villarreal's Gabriel Paulista (again via The Mirror), but Arsenal will still be down to the bare bones defensively when they face Brighton.

Laurent Koscielny should get a rest, considering his Achilles tendon problems are ongoing and he has played in the Gunners' last few matches. But Per Mertesacker has not received a breather for virtually the entire season and needs a break sometime soon.

The problem is that Wenger cannot rest both of his first-choice center-backs without fielding a partnership of Nacho Monreal and Calum Chambers, which is just too risky, even against a Championship side.

It will be interesting to see who Wenger decides to rest, and whether he uses Chambers or Monreal as a replacement, since Hector Bellerin's fitness is in question.

Will Brighton Be Up for the Fight?

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The only way Brighton can nick a victory from a somewhat depleted Arsenal side is if they outwork and harass their opponent. Will Chris Hughton's side be able to do that?

Brighton did just that two years ago, and nearly forced a replay. The formula was, and is, relatively simple: Condense the midfield and defense so as to clog the defensive third and force Arsenal to pass sideways. Then make the most of occasional counterattacking opportunities.

Brighton have not been very good at taking their chances this season, as they currently sit in 19th place in the Championship. However, their goal difference of only -5 indicates that they are not consistently getting blown out, and are therefore capable of producing an inspired display once in a while.

Will the Runts of Arsenal's Litter Make Their Case?

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There are numerous bit-part players who will hope that they get a chance to impress Arsene Wenger against lower-league opposition. With the likes of Francis Coquelin and Santi Cazorla becoming indispensable starters, fringe players have to assert themselves now.

Mathieu Flamini, for example, needs to make a case for playing more despite his obvious imperfections. Likewise, Tomas Rosicky faces a tough task with the rise of Cazorla and the return of Mesut Ozil. And Joel Campbell is just about at the end of the line—whether Wenger starts him or elects to rest him to avoid an injury that would preclude his sale will be telling.

There will not be many more opportunities for these players to show the manager what they can do in a real game until the end of the season. However, Wenger could very well choose to only rotate where absolutely necessary, pushing inconsistent starters even further away from the pitch.

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