Arteta makes nine changes | Predicted Arsenal XI vs Brighton with Timber & Bruno decisions made
Arsenal face off against Brighton & Hove Albion on the road in today’s Premier League clash.
The Gunners have made the perfect start to the season with seven straight wins and will aim to extend the run against the Seagulls at the Amex Stadium.
Arsenal have won their last three meetings, but they were far from their best in the same fixture last term, where they won by a solitary Bukayo Saka goal.
Brighton will pose a stern challenge with home advantage, and the Gunners will need to play at their best to secure three points before the international break.
Ahead of the game, we expect manager Mikel Arteta to make nine changes from the 4-2 win over Ipswich Town in the Carabao Cup third round on Tuesday night.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Predicted Line-up:
David Raya has kept five clean sheets in six appearances this term. He was given a breather in midweek with Kepa Arrizabalaga starting in goal. The 30-year-old should retain his spot from his compatriot.
The defence could witness three changes, with Myles Lewis-Skelly likely to move into midfield.
Ezri Konsa and Gabriel Magalhaes are expected to start in the heart of the defence, with Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori in the full-back positions. Timber looks set to make his first start of the season at right-back, with Ben White poised to miss out due to a minor groin injury. The Dutchman may not play the entire 90 minutes and could be substituted at the hour mark.
Marli Salmon got a rare opportunity in central defence in midweek. The 17-year-old should drop out of the starting XI alongside midfielder Martin Zubimendi, who played as a makeshift right-back.
In central midfield, Arteta should revert to his regular pairing of Declan Rice and Lewis-Skelly. Bruno Guimaraes made his first start since the Community Shield against Ipswich, but the Brazilian star could be handled with caution after his injury-plagued start to his Gunners career.
He was a half-time substitute for Lewis-Skelly against Sunderland, where he scored a stupendous opening goal. Guimaraes could be introduced at the interval against Brighton if Arsenal struggle to impose themselves. Alongside him, Mikel Merino is likely to start on the bench.
In the final third, a complete overhaul is expected with Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, Max Dowman and Viktor Gyokeres dropping out. Christos Tzolis and Saka are expected to start on the left and right wing, with captain Martin Odegaard occupying the number 10 position.
Kai Havertz is a guaranteed starter upfront amid his fine scoring form. Dowman has been in and out of the matchday squads this campaign, but the youngster should be rewarded with a bench role against the Seagulls on the back of scoring a stellar brace at Portman Road.
How Arsenal could line up vs Brighton
The post Arteta makes nine changes | Predicted Arsenal XI vs Brighton with Timber & Bruno decisions made first appeared on ArsenalNews.co.uk.