Arsenal predicted lineup vs Brighton - Premier League | OneFootball

Arsenal venture outside London for the first time since November with a trip to Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday.

The Gunners have navigated their glut of capital clashes without much fuss, racking up seven wins from nine games. The only setbacks for Mikel Arteta's side have been a pair of draws with Fulham and Everton.

A brief excursion down to the south coast this weekend precedes a run of five successive fixtures across four different competitions at the Emirates Stadium. Before returning to home comforts, here's how Arteta could line up for a rare trip beyond the M25.

Arsenal predicted lineup vs Brighton (4-3-3)

Declan Rice was rested and missed for Arsenal's trip to Brentford / Julian Finney/GettyImages

GK: David Raya - Reflecting on his playing days which have included winning top-flight promotion, the Premier League Golden Glove and last summer's European Championship, Raya plumped for a three-month loan at Stockport as "the best of my career". "We trained at the local university," he wistfully recalled. "You took your kit home to wash, came with your bag, towel."

RB: Thomas Partey - Perhaps aside from Pep Guardiola's praise for a beaten opponent, there are few things in the Premier League as unconvincing as Thomas Partey's ability to play at right-back. Brighton's fleet of flying wingers will endeavour to undermine the natural midfielder even further this weekend.

CB: William Saliba - Arsenal's standout player of 2024 began 2025 with another commanding display against Brentford.

CB: Gabriel Magalhaes - A matchup with Brighton is always a daunting fixture for Gabriel. Arsenal's Brazilian centre-back has lost as many teeth as games against the Seagulls (three of each).

LB: Myles Lewis-Skelly - The teenage stand-in has blossomed into a competent starter over the last two weeks. After Riccardo Calafiori's rusty return to action against Brentford in midweek, Lewis-Skelly may be called upon again to avoid overworking the Italian.

CM: Martin Odegaard - Hans Erik Odegaard, Martin's father and a former top-flight midfielder in Norway, was part of a cluster of parents which forked out £50,000 to refurbish the local pitch in Drammen, where his son spent hours honing his skills.

CM: Declan Rice - Forced into the unusual role of substitute twice in the last fortnight as Arteta belatedly manages the midfielder's minutes, Arsenal could do with Rice in the starting XI for a difficult trip south.

CM: Mikel Merino - The awe in Merino's voice when he described his first few training sessions at Arsenal was palpable. "It's something that is amazing," the midfielder gushed. "They do some things that I have never seen in my career." Perhaps he didn't watch the Amazon documentary which highlighted Arteta's use of lightbulbs, extension leads and pitch-side speakers.

RW: Gabriel Martinelli - Joao Carlos, Martinelli's father, was a strict coach. "I always told him that a professional footballer has to be able to shoot with both feet," he remembered. "You're not going to be perfect on your weaker side, but you need to have it as an option. He would take 150 shots, left foot only. It sounds like I'm exaggerating, but I'm not." Practice hasn't quite made perfect - Martinelli's conversion rate with his left foot (11.7%) isn't as good as his stronger side (16.5%).

ST: Gabriel Jesus - Almost a quarter of Jesus' career goals for Arsenal have arrived in his last four appearances.

LW: Leandro Trossard - Described by Arteta as "a little bit of a moaner" earlier this week, the former Brighton forward will be on the end of some unsavoury groans and goading upon his return to the AMEX.