However, Arsenal's manager, Mikel Arteta, will be watching from the director's box as he serves a suspension following a post-match rant after a previous loss to Newcastle United.
In their last outing against Aston Villa, Arsenal succumbed to a 1-0 defeat, with John McGinn's early goal proving decisive. Despite contentious decisions and missed opportunities, Arteta's team is determined to reclaim the top spot, especially since they are currently just one point ahead of Villa.
Having drawn 1-1 with PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League, Arsenal is looking to avoid a three-game winless streak, a rarity for them this season. They are unbeaten at home in any competition and aim to extend their winning streak at the Emirates to seven matches.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, despite leaving Arsenal in a contentious manner, sought revenge for his former team during Marseille's Europa League clash with Brighton. However, Brighton secured victory, finishing on top of their European group alongside Arsenal.
Brighton, currently sitting just outside the European qualification spots in eighth place, is coming off a 1-1 draw against Burnley and a narrow win over Brentford. Their last away fixture ended in a 3-2 defeat to Chelsea. The Seagulls, managed by Roberto De Zerbi, have been involved in high-scoring matches, both scoring and conceding in each of their last 20 top-flight games.
Notably, Brighton's 3-0 win over Arsenal in May was the last time they managed to keep a clean sheet in a Premier League fixture. As they head to North London, they aim to maintain their impressive record against Arsenal, having secured victories in their last three away encounters at the Emirates.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Arteta and Arsenal faced the primary concern of returning from Eindhoven without new injuries, but unfortunately, Mohamed Elneny suffered a hamstring problem in the European match. However, it's expected that Elneny's absence will be short-lived.In a positive turn, Emile Smith Rowe made a quicker-than-expected recovery from his knee issue during Tuesday's game. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli were sidelined due to a foot concern and illness, respectively, but there's no indication that they won't be available for Sunday's match.
Arteta is likely to make several changes for the upcoming game, but players like Takehiro Tomiyasu (calf), Thomas Partey (thigh), Fabio Vieira (groin), and Jurrien Timber (knee) are confirmed to be unavailable.
Brighton, following their historic win against Marseille, has no significant injury concerns. Pedro, the match-winner, appeared slightly fatigued when substituted in injury time and will be assessed before the North London trip.
Unfortunately, Danny Welbeck won't be able to face his former team, and several players, including Ansu Fati, Pervis Estupinan, Tariq Lamptey, Julio Enciso, and Solly March, are still in the recovery process.
Adam Webster (knock) is expected to be the first to return from the medical bay, but his availability for the Arsenal match is uncertain. To add fresh legs to the team, Joel Veltman, Adam Lallana, and Evan Ferguson are likely to be utilized.
POSSIBLE-LINE-UPS
Arsenal possible starting lineup:Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Verbruggen; Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, Milner; Baleba, Gross; Adingra, Lallana, Mitoma; Ferguson
EXPERT PREDICTION
Arsenal 2-1 Brighton
While Brighton has enjoyed success against Arsenal in their recent Emirates encounters, their defensive solidity has been elusive since their last visit. Additionally, the limited time for recovery is likely to impact De Zerbi's team.
Although the Seagulls' manager has several capable alternatives, Arteta is anticipated to field a full-strength team at their newly reinforced home ground. As a result, we anticipate the Gunners bringing Brighton back to reality with a strong performance.
