Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Fabian Hürzeler says the club have “high expectations” as they prepare to mark their 125th anniversary with a Premier League meeting against champions Arsenal at the Amex Stadium.

The fixture falls close to the anniversary of Brighton’s first competitive match in 1901 and will include special celebrations at the stadium. Hürzeler said the occasion reflects the club’s progress but insisted that continued success must be built on the habits established every day at the training ground.

“We are a club that’s well-structured,” Hürzeler said. “We are a club, and I think it’s very important to emphasise this, that has high expectations. We want to grow and we want to challenge the establishment in a consistent way.”

Brighton enter the match with seven points from their opening four Premier League games after recording two wins, a draw and one defeat. Arsenal have won each of their opening four league matches and arrive at the Amex leading the table on goal difference.

Hürzeler praised Arsenal’s form and development but said Brighton have the belief to compete with the champions. “They’re the best team at the moment in the Premier League,” he said. “But we are not afraid of facing them. We have this belief of competing with them, of being relentlessly competitive, and that’s what we want to do.”

The Brighton head coach also played down any lingering tension from his criticism of Arsenal’s style after a 1–0 defeat at the Amex last season. He said football opinions are normal, but that both teams have changed since their previous meeting.

Brighton will assess Femi Azeez before the match, while Georginio Rutter is nearing a return after a recent foot issue. Hürzeler previously said Rutter had returned to the pitch in training and could be available if he suffered no further setback.

Midfielder Yasin Ayari remains in discussions over a new contract, with Hürzeler describing the Sweden international as a player who has made significant progress in recent seasons. “Yasin is a great player who has had great development for us over the last two years,” Hürzeler said.

With Arsenal seeking to preserve their perfect start and Brighton aiming to make their anniversary fixture memorable, Saturday’s 15:00 BST kick-off offers Hürzeler’s side the chance to measure themselves against the Premier League leaders.