MERINO AND CALAFIORI STARTS: Mikel Arteta release Arsenal lineups against Brighton- All injury players returns and many more GOOD NEWS
Arsenal new boy Mikel Merino should be in line for his Gunners debut when the North London giants host Brighton & Hove Albion in Saturday’s early Premier League kickoff.
The Spain international’s transfer from Real Sociedad was confirmed on Tuesday, although his lack of football this season and form of Arsenal’s current midfielders means that he will likely have to accept a spot among the substitutes.
Indeed, Thomas Partey has surely made himself undroppable for the weekend thanks to his goal in last weekend’s win over Aston Villa, while Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice are always two of the first names on the team sheet.
However, there could be scope for a change up front, as Gabriel Martinelli was off the boil again at Villa Park, while Leandro Trossard took no time whatsoever to make an impact off the bench.
The former Brighton man could not have done more to earn a start against his former employers alongside Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka, the latter of whom bids to emulate Thierry Henry as the second Arsenal player to score or assist in their first three games of a Premier League season.
Further back, Ben White, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes will form part of the rearguard in front of David Raya, who made arguably the save of the season so far from Ollie Watkins‘s close-range header last weekend.
After being promoted to the first XI against Villa, Jurrien Timber could retain his place at left-back for the Gunners, who are set to be without Gabriel Jesus, Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu due to injury.
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Trossard
