Brighton & Hove Albion - Arsenal preview - Dunk back from ban

Posted Saturday, January 24, 2015 by PA

Lewis Dunk returns to Brighton's squad for the FA Cup fourth-round clash against Arsenal.

The defender served a one-match ban in midweek when the Seagulls defeated high-flying Ipswich 3-2 in the Sky Bet Championship.

Seagulls manager Chris Hughton can also call on Jake Forster-Caskey (hip) and Craig Mackail-Smith (ankle) after missing the pair on Wednesday night.

Greg Halford stays sidelined because of a calf problem while Kazenga LuaLua (knee) and Dale Stephens (ankle), also remain out.

Skipper Gordon Greer hopes to face a full-strength Gunners side.

He said: "If you ask anyone in the dressing room they'd rather see the strongest Arsenal team out there.

"It will be great for us to see how we compete against them as it's something you don't get the opportunity to do very often.

"This is something we are all looking forward to. As players you don't play football to face the easy sides, you want to play against the best players and there are some great players in that team.

"It's fantastic for everybody connected to the club and it's a chance to show what we're about and an opportunity to play against some of the best players in the Premier League- it's a good test for us."

Mesut Ozil and Theo Walcott have just returned from injury and are expected to be in contention to start.

Manager Arsene Wenger is confident having such strength in reserve, with England midfielder Jack Wilshere stepping up his rehabilitation following ankle surgery, can only boost Arsenal's prospects for the second half of the campaign.

"People reproach you when you have no competition on the bench. When there is one, they question you as well," said Wenger.

"It is true there is competition for places at the moment, that is a luxury that only a club like of our stature can afford.

"It can make the players better, because the competition inside the club is always very important to keep the players on their toes.

"These (Walcott and Ozil) are players who are in a bit of a special position, it is not their quality which is questioned, it is just the fact they have just come back from long-term injuries."