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[Image] 21-year-old starts, Pepe misses out: My Arsenal line-up vs Brighton

By mac14 on October 1, 2021

Arsenal will be looking to continue their recent good form when we take on Brighton at the Amex Stadium on Saturday evening. This is the line-up I’d like to see Mikel Arteta select for the match…

Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has enjoyed an excellent start to life at Arsenal and I see no reason why he shouldn’t keep his place ahead of Bernd Leno tomorrow.

Finally, it looks like Arsenal have a reliable back four. Takehiro Tomiyasi has been hugely impressive since joining the club in the summer and he’s now nailed down the right-back spot while Kieran Tierney continues to be a huge threat down the left flank.

Ben White is growing more confident every game and I think he could form an excellent partnership alongside the ever-impressive Gabriel in the middle of the Arsenal back four. I don’t think there can be any debate over who should start in defence against Brighton, which is a nice position for us to be in.

However, Arteta certainly has a decision to make in midfield after Granit Xhaka was ruled out for 3 months with a knee injury that he sustained in the North London Derby last weekend.

Smith Rowe starts

We could see the boss go with Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe in front of Thomas Partey – as he picked at Burnley – but Xhaka’s injury is also an opportunity for Albert Sambi Lokonga to cement his place in the team.

Personally, I’d go with 21-year-old Sambi alongside Partey in midfield against a dangerous Brighton side tomorrow, with Odegaard in the attacking midfield role. Smith Rowe has to keep his place though after an excellent performance against Spurs, which means he’ll start from out wide.

Bukayo Saka was also back in top form last weekend so he should start on the right wing. Unfortunately, that would see Nicolas Pepe resigned to the bench along with Gabriel Martinelli but at least Arsenal have top class options again.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was outstanding against Tottenham so he’ll continue to lead the line up front with Alexandre Lacazette on the bench.

Here is the side I hope we see: