Arsenal are at the Amex Stadium to take on Brighton & Hove Albion tonight knowing victory would put them just three points behind the leaders. Liverpool.
Heading into weekend action, the Gunners find themselves six points adrift after beating Brentford 3-1 away from home on New Year's Day. With Liverpool not playing Manchester United Until Sunday, Arsenal can now apply pressure by reducing their lead to just three points with a win over the Seagulls.
Mikel Arteta He has been forced to make some changes from the team that won at the Gtech Stadium but David Raya maintains his place between the sticks. Riccardo Calafiori also starts again in the Arsenal defense alongside Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba.
However, Arteta has to turn things around at right-back as Jurrien Timber is suspended while Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are still injured. Thomas Partey will therefore return to the right-back position tonight.
Jorginho is called up to start in the midfield, while Mikel Merino and Declan Rice It also starts in the middle of the park. Martin Odegaard drops to the bench after a disappointing performance against Brentford.
Ethan Nwaneri keeps his place as the youngster continues to fill in for the injured Bukayo Saka on the right flank. Leandro Trossard is called in to replace Gabriel Martinelli on the left while Gabriel Jesus maintains its place at the front. Kai Havertz remains on sick leave.
As for Brighton, Joel Veltman starts in defense alongside Jan Paul van Hecke. Matt O'Riley lines up in midfield while Joao Pedro starts in attack alongside Simon Adingra.
These are the confirmed lineups for the match:
Brighton
Verbruggen; Veltman, Van Hecke, Igor, Estupinan; Baleba, O'Riley, Ayari; Gruda, Pedro, Adingra
Substitutes: Steele, Lamptey, Webster, March, Moder, Mitoma, Enciso, Rutter, Minteh
Arsenal
stripe; Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Jorginho, Merino; Nwaneri, Jesus, Trossard
Substitutes: Neto, Tierney, Lewis-Skelly, Zinchenko, Kiwior, Odegaard, Kabia, Butler-Oyedeji, Martinelli.
