Arsenal aim to continue their perfect start to the Premier League season when Brighton visit the Emirates on Saturday lunchtime.
Mikel Arteta’s men have begun their title challenge in flawless fashion with back-to-back wins over Wolves and Aston Villa without conceding a goal.
Last weekend, the Gunners rode their luck to win at Villa Park as goals from Leandro Trossard and Thomas Partey secured a 2-0 win over last season’s top-four finishers.
Brighton, however, will pose another tough test for the North Londoners after also starting the 2024/25 Premier League campaign with maximum points. After easing past Everton on the opening weekend, Fabian Hurzeler’s side secured a 2-1 win over Manchester United last time out, courtesy of Joao Pedro’s 95th-minute winner.
Arsenal vs Brighton – Predicted lineup and team news
Arsenal team news
Mikel Arteta has confirmed that summer signing Mikel Merino will not make his debut for the Gunners this weekend. The Spain international has sustained a should injury following a training ground collision with Gabriel and will miss ‘a few weeks’ due to a slight fracture. It’s a blow to the Gunners, with the 28-year-old recruited from Real Sociedad in a £31.6m deal to strengthen Arteta’s engine room.
A tough start to life for Mikel Merino at Arsenal 😕 pic.twitter.com/nNldg50ocA
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 30, 2024
Takehiro Tomiyasu is also out for the North London side, while Gabriel Jesus will miss Saturday’s lunchtime meeting with the Seagulls. On Jesus’ injury, Arteta said at his pre-match press conference: “He’s progressing really well, he had a muscle injury and he’s doing quite a lot of the stuff already so we expect him to be with us really soon.”
Leandro Trossard is pushing for a start after scoring within two minutes of his introduction from the bench against Aston Villa. The Belgium international could replace Gabriel Martinelli in the side to face his former team, with the latter having struggled for form of late. Ben White, who has not changed his stance on representing England despite the chance in head coach, will also take on his old employers.
Arsenal signed Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto on loan on deadline day, as a replacement for Aaron Ramsdale after the England international’s £25m move to Southampton. However, the experienced shot-stopper was not registered in time to feature against Brighton.
Arsenal vs Brighton predicted lineup
Predicted Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Trossard, Havertz.
Arsenal vs Brighton TV Channel and kick-off time
Arsenal v Brighton will take place on Saturday 31st August 2024. The game will be shown on TNT Sports with coverage beginning at 11am. Kick-off at the Emirates is 12:30pm (BST).
