Jurrien Timber will not play a part in Arsenal's clash with Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday afternoon, despite attending the Emirates Stadium.
As a result of the Dutchman being pictured entering the stadium, many Gunners fans will have expected to see his name on Mikel Arteta's team sheet for the fixture. However, when the line-ups were announced an hour and a quarter ahead of kick-off, Timber wasn't even on the bench.
Speaking about his reason for dropping Timber from his squad, Arteta told Sky Sports News: "We missed him because in the last part of the game he felt something and he could not carry on so he's out."
In other team news, Gabriel was announced as being on the bench for the fixture following a lengthy lay-off. The Brazilian has been out of action for his club since the November international break, when he picked up an injury against Senegal at the Emirates Stadium.
Speaking about the centre-half's availability during his pre-match press conference earlier this week, Arteta explained: "We'll have to wait and see. He hasn't trained yet, he's still doing his rehab. But hopefully as quickly as possible because we know the situation that we have in the back line."
Piero Hincapie has also returned to the starting XI to face Fabian Hurzeler's Brighton on Saturday. The Ecuadorian was doubtful headed into the clash, given he sustained a shoulder injury against Everton last weekend which forced him out of the Gunners' midweek Carabao Cup clash with Crystal Palace, in which, the North London side ran out winners after a tense penalty shootout.
Here's Arsenal's full line-up to take on Brighton on home turf in the Premier League:
Starting XI: David Raya, William Saliba, Piero Hincapie, Riccardo Calafiori, Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Mikel Merino, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, Viktor Gyokeres.
Bench: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Gabriel, Gabriel Jesus, Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Martinelli, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly.
It comes as Saturday's clash evidently rises too soon for Kai Havertz to compete. The attacking midfielder has missed most of the season thus far as a result of a knee injury, with Arteta speaking on his situation earlier this week.
He said: "I think it will be a matter of days, if not weeks. Let's see in the next step how he responds to that. He's a player that we missed a lot, a player that brings the team into a different dimension. So, I'm really happy to have him back very soon."
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