How Brighton will benefit from the pause in Europa League duties
For the first time this season, Brighton failed to score in a Premier League game. A 2-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal on Sunday leaves Roberto De Zerbi’s side ninth in the table and eight points adrift of the top four as the midway point of the campaign approaches.
Brighton made a superb start to the season, winning five of their first six top-flight matches, but they have struggled to balance domestic and continental commitments since the Europa League got under way in the middle of September.
That is understandable. Brighton have never played European football before and they were drawn in the so-called group of death. After losing to AEK Athens on matchday one, the Seagulls took 13 points from the next 15 available to qualify directly for the round of 16 ahead of Marseille and Ajax.
Indeed, finishing top of the group - a consequence of their 1-0 victory over Marseille at the Amex Stadium last week - allows Brighton to avoid the knockout round playoffs. That means they will only return to action in the Europa League on March 7th.
Between now and then, Brighton will be able to focus almost exclusively on the Premier League - they will also face Stoke City in the FA Cup third round next month - with 30 points up for grabs before the Thursday-Sunday routine kicks in again. That will be welcome news for De Zerbi, whose side failed to win in five of the six league games that immediately followed a European outing.
The domestic fixture list between now and the Europa League round of 16 provides reason for optimism. Brighton have a double-header with Tottenham on the horizon, but Spurs are the only member of the big six that Albion are due to face between now and the middle of March. There are no scheduled meetings with Aston Villa or Newcastle United in that time either.
For the most part, De Zerbi will be able to focus on one fixture per week and the Brighton players will have longer rest periods between matches. That can only benefit them.
There are certainly areas where Brighton must improve. They are one of only two teams - the other is Luton Town - yet to keep a clean sheet this term. Only the promoted trio have conceded more goals than Brighton, who gave up 26 shots in the loss to Arsenal on Sunday.
De Zerbi’s side still pack a punch in attack. Only the current top six have scored more goals than Brighton, who rank fifth for shots per game with 14.9 and joint-second for shots on target per game with 6.2.
There is something to build on, then. It will be interesting to see whether, without Europe, De Zerbi settles on a preferred team or continues to rotate. The Brighton boss is yet to name the same XI in consecutive Premier League games this season. He has deployed seven different players at left-back and another at left wing-back. The Italian also leads the way for substitutions with 81.
Injuries have certainly contributed and Brighton’s adaptability is one of their best qualities. Given their participation in four different competitions this season, a thin squad would have made things difficult. But De Zerbi may well reduce the number of changes between games as he puts the Europa League on the back burner.
Thursday night football is not quite over yet, with Brighton set to renew hostilities with arch-rivals Crystal Palace later this week. With no European football until March and a decent set of fixtures coming up, the Seagulls can soar once more.
