Mikel Arteta to make nine Arsenal changes vs Brighton, £38.5m star finally starts
Arsenal face Brighton & Hove Albion in Saturday’s Premier League game at the Amex Stadium.
The Gunners have made a perfect start to the campaign with seven straight wins in all competitions.
They will aim to extend the run against the Seagulls, who have been in good scoring form.
Brighton have netted 20 goals in just seven matches this term, and should be full of confidence after coming from 2-0 down to beat Manchester United 3-2 in the Carabao Cup third round.
Ahead of Saturday’s encounter, manager Mikel Arteta looks poised to make nine changes.
David Raya is obviously expected to return in goal ahead of Kepa Arrizabalaga.
The Spaniard has been exceptional between the sticks and has already kept five clean sheets.
Gabriel Magalhaes and Ezri Konsa played 45 minutes each in the first and second half, respectively, against Ipswich Town in the Carabao Cup third round win (4-2). The central defensive pair are expected to start together at Brighton.
Riccardo Calafiori has been ever-present as the left-back in the Premier League this term.
He should be an assured starter ahead of Piero Hincapie, who missed the recent Ipswich trip due to injury. Myles Lewis-Skelly played as the left-back at Portman Road, but he should return to midfield on Saturday.
At right-back, Jurrien Timber looks set to make his first start of the season after recovering from a nagging groin problem.
The £38.5 million signing should come in for Martin Zubimendi, who started as the makeshift right-back against the Tractor Boys.
Ben White has been the regular starter in the defensive position this campaign during Timber’s earlier absence.
However, he is a big doubt for the weekend, having picked up a groin injury at the Stadium of Light, which contributed to Timber coming off the bench for his first appearance of the season.
Timber was not part of the squad for the Ipswich trip, but the decision was purely precautionary.
Arteta has stuck with Declan Rice and Lewis-Skelly as his regular midfield pairing. Bruno Guimaraes made a big difference off the bench at Sunderland, scoring a world-class long-range goal.
Despite this, the Brazilian could be handled with extra caution after his early-season injuries. We fancy the 28-year-old to replace Lewis-Skelly at the interval if Arsenal struggle to dominate Brighton.
Rice and Lewis-Skelly will likely start in central midfield, with Guimaraes and Mikel Merino on the bench.
In the final third, there should be a complete overhaul. Max Dowman, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres are expected to drop out for the regular league starters.
Martin Odegaard, who has been in splendid form with four goals this term, should start as the attacking midfielder with Christos Tzolis and Bukayo Saka operating on the wings.
Kai Havertz looks an undisputed starter upfront after three goals this season. Dowman was exceptional in midweek with a goal in either half and should be rewarded with a matchday spot at least.
Likely Arsenal line-up (4-2-3-1) vs Brighton: Raya; Timber, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Lewis-Skelly; Saka, Odegaard, Tzolis; Havertz.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
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