Brighton & Hove Albion v Arsenal
The FA Cup with Budweiser
Fourth Round Proper
3pm, Saturday 26 January 2013
The Amex Stadium, Brighton & Hove Albion FC
Winning clubs receive £90,000 from The FA's Prize Fund
Click here for fixtures
By Julian Bennetts

Brighton manager Gus Poyet hopes his side have learnt a lesson from their FA Cup exit to Liverpool last season as they prepare to welcome Arsenal to the Amex Stadum on Saturday.

And the Uruguayan admits he is relishing the chance to test himself against Arsene Wenger, a manager he rates as second in England only to Sir Alex Ferguson.

Poyet's side will be confident of causing a shock after knocking out Premier League opposition in Newcastle United in the Third Round, but Wenger is expected to name a strong side as he looks to end the club's eight-year trophy drought.

Brighton are just outside the play-off places in the Championship but Poyet hopes his team will improve on their 6-1 defeat to Liverpool last season, when they scored three own-goals.

And the former Chelsea and Tottenham midfielder believes it will be a completely different affair from last year's Fifth Round clash at Anfield.

He said: “I'm learning from last year, and I want to make sure we don't give everything in the first 30 minutes.

“The tension of going to Anfield and trying to give everything took over our heads and we lost it mentally and physically.

“Of course the opposition has a big chance because of their quality. But it is also about fitness, the chance to keep running and sprinting and fighting for longer, because they are Premier League players.

“We need to be a bit smarter and I want to see my team playing the same football but more intelligent.”

And Poyet has paid tribute to Wenger, who has transformed Arsenal since his arrival in 1996.

“He has to be up there with the best in English football in terms of the ones who are now in charge," he added. "Alex Ferguson is the best. Not only because of the time but the titles and the trophies. Arsene has to be second.

“I don't support Arsenal but I like to watch Arsenal. That says a lot. When you watch football, I try to look at places and teams that I can learn from, and Arsenal is one of the teams I can learn from. I'm always looking to learn from them.

“I really admire the club. I think it’s a very good place. The manager who goes there after Arsene Wenger is going to be very lucky.”