There is something about a trip to Brighton that always makes me a little nervous.

Maybe it is the memory of awkward afternoons on the south coast. Maybe it is the fact that Brighton are rarely interested in making life comfortable for anyone. Or perhaps it is simply the very Arsenal-fan instinct of refusing to relax, even when everything is going rather well.

And, right now, things are going rather well.

Arsenal head to the Amex today with a perfect record. In the Premier League we have taken maximum points from our opening four matches. The latest was a controlled 2-0 victory away at Sunderland, following wins over Coventry, Chelsea and Aston Villa.

Victories have also come in the Champions League, League Cup and Community Shield – 7 games played, 7 wins.

But Brighton are hardly waiting around to admire our start.

The Seagulls arrive after putting five past Coventry last weekend, and that result underlined the attacking threat Arsenal will have to deal with. Their opening weeks have produced plenty of goals, including a 4-0 victory over Aston Villa, so this is not a side we can afford to underestimate.

From an Arsenal perspective, the big question is whether we can impose the control we have seen in recent weeks.

That feels particularly important at the Amex. Brighton will want to move the ball quickly, pull Arsenal’s shape around and create the kind of open game that can become uncomfortable very quickly. For the Gunners, patience may be just as important as attacking quality.

And then there is Bukayo Saka.

There is something wonderfully reassuring about having Saka available when Arsenal need a moment of inspiration. He scored the late penalty against Sunderland and will surely be one of the players Brighton have spent the week thinking about.

The recent head-to-head record also gives Arsenal fans something to cling to: the Gunners won 1-0 on our last visit to the Amex in March, while also beating Brighton twice at home last season.

Still, this is Brighton away. We know better than to expect an easy afternoon.

Three points would keep the momentum going and, perhaps more importantly, provide another indication that this Arsenal side can handle the less glamorous, more difficult tests that arrive throughout a Premier League season.

So, naturally, I am feeling completely calm about it.

Absolutely no nerves whatsoever.

Probably.

DJ