If it seems like we only just played Brighton in the FA Cup, that’s probably because we just did. Relatively speaking.

Meeting the same team in the same round of this competition two years ago, Arsenal have only played Brighton five times in the last 33 years.

So how did those games go?

26th January 2013 – FA Cup (A)
Result W 3-2

The game against Brighton in the 2013 FA Cup was a tight one.

Despite taking the lead twice though two great, and very different, Olivier Giroud goals, Brighton were able to peg back an Arsenal side that had rested a number of players meaning that it would take a late, deflected winner from Theo Walcott before Arsenal could make the game safe.

Of course, ‘safe’ is a relative term and Walcott’s 85th minute winner did not deter Brighton in trying to find a third equaliser. In the end, Arsenal hung on to win it enabling them to be humiliated in the next round by Blackburn Rovers at the Emirates.

Arsenal’s starting lineup:

Szczesny, Jenkinson, Santos, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Rosicky, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey, Diaby (DIABY!), Podolski, Giroud.

Walcott replaced the Ox while Wilshere replaced Rosicky after 68 minutes. Kieran Gibbs came on for Santos with 12 minutes left.

Highlights:

30th January 1988 – FA Cup (A)
Result W 2-1

It’s hard to find much information for this game but thanks to Helen, who compiled our Brighton & Hove Albion factsheet we do, at least, know that the Arsenal goalscorers on the day were Kevin Richardson and Perry Groves.

Arsenal’s starting lineup that day was:

Lukic, Sansom, O’Leary, Adams, Winterburn, Rocastle, Williams, Richardson, Rix, Quinn, Groves with Martin Hayes replacing Graham Rix.

26,467 were in attendance.

Highlights (the camerawork is worse than the pitch):

5th February 1983 – League (H)
Result W 3-1

Like the above game, information about this one is also hard to come by other than the goalscorers for Arsenal (Raphael Meade (x2) and Graham Rix).

Although this game was in the league, Brighton would make the FA Cup final this season where they lost 4-0 to Manchester United.

Arsenal finished the season in 10th place in the old Division One while Brighton were relegated after finishing bottom.

Arsenal’s starting lineup that day was:

Jennings, Sansom, O’Leary, Talbot, Rix, Davis, Nicholas (Peter not Charlie), Petrovic, Robson (he hates us you know), Hollins, Meade.

7th September 1982 – League (A)
Result L 0-1

I’ll stop telling you that information was hard to come by for these games now.

Arsenal lost. They didn’t score.

They did, at least, have some players on the pitch and they were:

Wood, O’Leary, Whyte, Hollins, Rix, Talbot, Devine, Robson (yes, him again), Davis, Woodcock, and Lee Chapman.

Brighton, despite finishing bottom of the table, would also beat Manchester United at home during their final top-flight campaign. Winning eight games at home, they only managed one win on the road.

Arsenal didn’t fare much better that season winning just five of their league games away from home, drawing four and losing 12. Their home form was somewhat better, losing only four out of their 21 matches at Highbury (there were 22 teams in the division).

10th April 1982 – League (A)
Result L 1-2

Another defeat, another game I know absolutely nothing about.

Unlike Arsenal’s next encounter with Brighton (we’re doing this in reverse chronological order), Arsenal did manage to get on the scoresheet in this one thanks to a goal from Brian Talbot.

Arsenal lineup:

Wood, Sansom, Whyte, O’Leary, Nicholas (still Peter), Robson (still hates us), Davis, Talkbot, Hollins, Meade, Sunderland.

Arsenal would finish this season in fifth place while Brighton achieved a very respectable 12th-place finish.

[lineup source]