[4-3-3]: Partey starts, Lewis-Skelly replaced Calafiori and 17-years old star replaced Bukayo Saka- Arsenal predicted lineup against Brentford as Mikel Arteta start 17-years old academy star ahead of Martinelli and Trossard
Venturing outside of London for the first time in 10 matches, Arsenal head to the South Coast to pit their wits against Brighton & Hove Albion in Saturday evening’s Premier League showdown.
Mikel Arteta’s men kicked off the New Year with a resounding 3-1 success over Brentford, a couple of days after the Seagulls produced a stellar fightback of their own in a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa.
One sour note of Arsenal’s midweek triumph was the suspension-inducing yellow card picked up by Jurrien Timber, whose absence leaves Arsenal without a single recognised right-back while Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu recuperate from knee injuries.
Unless Arteta springs a surprise and starts 18-year-old Joshua Nichols, Thomas Partey should operate as a makeshift full-back once again, opening the door for Rice or Kai Havertz – absent from the Brentford win due to illness – to come back into the midfield.
With Bukayo Saka (hamstring) and Raheem Sterling (knee) both confined to the infirmary, Arteta handed Ethan Nwaneri his maiden Premier League start at Brentford, but it would be a surprise to see the 17-year-old hold his spot given the quick turnaround time.
While Arsenal have suffered a full-back blow, Brighton boss Hurzeler is holding out hope that Pervis Estupinan will be fit to face the Gunners after sitting out of the encounter with Villa due to illness.
Adam Webster is also in with a slight chance of coming back from the hamstring injury that has rendered him unavailable for 13 matches, while Jack Hinshelwood (knee) is on the verge of his own return, but Danny Welbeck (ankle), Mats Wieffer (leg), Evan Ferguson (ankle), James Milner (hamstring) and Ferdi Kadioglu (toe) will not be available.
The opening of the January transfer window also means that Diego Gomez’s £11m move from Inter Miami has been made official, but the midfielder will not be considered for his first appearance this weekend.
Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup: Verbruggen; Lamptey, Dunk, Van Hecke, Estupinan; Baleba, O’Riley; Adingra, Rutter, Mitoma; Pedro
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Rice, Merino; Martinelli, Jesus, Trossard
