Arsenal stars lark about in training ahead of FA Cup clash... but Arsene Wenger vows not to take Brighton lightly

• e-mail

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insists the FA Cup holders will not underestimate the potential of being on the end of an upset at Brighton on Sunday.

The Gunners head to the Amex Stadium on the back of an impressive 2-0 win at Manchester City last weekend, which moved them closer to the Barclays Premier League top four.

Wenger, though, will be taking nothing for granted against the Seagulls, who have regrouped under new manager Chris Hughton and defeated Sky Bet Championship promotion-chasers Ipswich 3-2 on Wednesday night with two goals from on-loan Liverpool forward Joao Teixeira.

Olivier Giroud (top) and Alexis Sanchez have a play wrestle during Arsenal training 

Top scorer Sanchez was in high spirits as he larked about with Mesut Ozil (left) and Giroud

Germany international Ozil (right), with youngster Dan Crowley, is expected to start against Brighton

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has vowed that the Gunners will be taking the FA clash seriously

Santi Cazorla and Hector Bellerin (right) were all smiles during a sunny day's training

'We have to study them well,' Wenger said.

'In the cup, you have to be ready from the start and people like that can always surprise you if you are not ready.'

Arsenal came through a fourth-round tie at Brighton in January 2013 with a late winner from Theo Walcott, but not before being pushed by Gus Poyet's well-organised team who were at the time themselves pressing for the Championship play-offs.

'It is always difficult in the Championship away from home,' said the Gunners boss.

'We remember Brighton from a couple of years ago, it was a very difficult game against a team who were on the way up - they were fighting at the top level with Gus Poyet.

'We needed to dig deep to get out with a positive result.'

England international Theo Walcott is set for a return after recovering from a long-term injury

Keeper Wojciech Szczesny could also make a return after losing his place recently

In form Cazorla, pictured training with Aaron Ramsey, could be rested for the game

Ozil stretches out a boot as Cazorla (centre) and Sanchez watch on during the session at London Colney

Wenger is expected to rotate his squad on Sunday, which with several players now back from injury could see the likes of Walcott and Mesut Ozil start, having both been on the bench at Manchester City.

Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny may also return having been out of the side since the Premier League defeat at Southampton on New Year's Day, after which the Poland international was reportedly smoking.

Full-back Kieran Gibbs maintains having fought so hard to win the FA Cup last season, with an extra-time victory over Hull at Wembley in May ending the club's nine-year trophy drought, the Arsenal players are determined to enjoy another extended run in the competition.

Reformed midfielder Francis Coquelin (left) turns up with Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny (right)

Ozil is wrapped up warm despite the bright skies as he and Serge Gnabry (left) arrive for training

'If you ask any of the players in our dressing room if they want to experience that again, they will all say yes,' Gibbs wrote in his blog on Sportlobster.com.

'They all want to keep hold of the FA Cup, so it will be another big test for us this weekend against a Brighton side which would love to cause an upset.

'We will prepare for the game exactly the same as we do for a big Premier League match and show our opponents full respect as ever. Hopefully, we will come through it okay.'