Arsenal lineup vs. Brighton: Predicted XI for Premier League clash as Kai Havertz decision made

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta is facing a right-back crisis for Saturday evening's Premier League battle with Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium.

The Gunners triumphed 3-1 over Brentford in their New Year's Day battle, but the win did not come without sacrifice, as Jurrien Timber was booked for the fifth time this season and must now serve a one-game suspension.

Timber's absence coupled with Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu's knee injuries means that Arsenal have no senior right-backs available for the trip to the South Coast, where Thomas Partey should start as an emergency defender.

The Ghana international will be free to move into a full-back role if either Declan Rice or Kai Havertz - who missed the win over Brentford entirely due to illness - are able to plug the midfield gap, and the former should certainly be considered for a recall to the first XI.

Arteta might see fit to persist with Mikel Merino in the left eight role after his goal in Wednesday's derby, but Riccardo Calafiori did not cover himself in glory and might make way for a well-rested Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Ethan Nwaneri became the Premier League's youngest-ever player when he made an appearance at Brentford in September 2022, and over two years later, the 17-year-old made his first top-flight start at the Gtech Community Stadium on New Year's Day.

Nwaneri did himself proud in the absence of Bukayo Saka, but Arteta may not deem him ready for successive Premier League starts just yet, so Leandro Trossard could return as Gabriel Martinelli switches flanks.

Arsenal possible starting lineup: Raya; Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Rice, Merino; Martinelli, Jesus, Trossard

> Click here to see how Brighton could line up for this game