Arsenal line-ups vs Brighton as Bukayo Saka agreement reached but Viktor Gyokeres dropped

Brighton haven’t beaten Arsenal at the Amex Stadium since June 2020, when Neal Maupay scored a last minute winner

Mikel Arteta could raise a few eyebrows when he selects the Arsenal starting lineup on Wednesday night. The Gunners will be determined to maintain their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League when they face Brighton at the Amex Stadium.

Speaking to reporters at the Sobha Realty Training Centre on Tuesday afternoon, Arteta heaped praise on Fabian Hurzeler’s side. The Spaniard said: “Very, very good side. The way they’re coached as well.

“They have a sequence of years as well with a very similar style and players that fit really, really well, what they want to do, they really believe in what they do. So, always a very tough opponent.”

And on how his side are feeling as the title race nears the final straight, Arteta said: “We talk about every aspect of the game, and managing a game, managing a result, managing a set-time context; you have ten men against eleven. It’s a very important one. So, we discuss about everything.”

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So, with that being said, football.london writers Tom Canton and Jake Stokes have predicted how Arsenal will set up against Brighton.

Tom Canton

I think there is need for some changes for this game and also to switch things up. I think Arsenal need to surprise Brighton a bit and go for it here to get a positive result and a strong win away from home. It would be some statement.

Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka in the middle with Declan Rice in a holding role, giving some much-needed rest to Martin Zubimendi. This means a change on the wings with Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli coming in.

It provides speed out wide and creation internally which will certainly help Viktor Gyokeres up top. Little change elsewhere with big rotation in the back planned for the weekend trip to Mansfield Town in the FA Cup.

Canton’s Arsenal XI vs Brighton – Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Rice, Saka, Eze; Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli

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Jake Stokes

I wouldn’t be surprised if Mikel Arteta makes a couple of small tweaks to the starting lineup that faced Chelsea. Although the Arsenal boss won’t want to take his foot off the pedal, he can afford to rotate his side a little against Brighton on Wednesday before making wholesale changes in the FA Cup on Saturday.

It goes without saying that David Raya should start between the sticks, with Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba at centre-half. Jurrien Timber could do with a rest, but Ben White is out, and I can’t see Cristhian Mosquera playing right-back from the off.

Arteta can, however, rotate at left-back, so Riccardo Calafiori should be given a run-out. Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice need to recharge their batteries, so one of them will likely make way for Christian Norgaard.

Neither Gabriel Martinelli nor Leandro Trossard set the world alight against Chelsea, so it would be interesting to see whether Noni Madueke gets a chance on the left on Wednesday night. Similarly to Zubimendi, I can’t see Arteta giving Saka a rest just yet.

The Arsenal boss didn’t give too much away when he was asked about Martin Odegaard, so Eberechi Eze will probably resume in the middle for now. And up top, Gabriel Jesus, with Viktor Gyokeres rested and a start for Kai Havertz perhaps too soon.

Jake’s Arsenal XI vs Brighton: Raya; Timber, Magalhaes, Saliba, Calafiori; Rice, Norgaard; Martinelli, Eze, Madueke; Jesus.

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