The latest Arsenal team news, injury update and predicted XI ahead of the Gunners’ trip to take on Brighton
Arsenal head into Gameweek 5 of the 2026/27 Premier League season brimming with confidence, after a 4-2 Carabao Cup win over Ipswich Town in midweek saw Mikel Arteta’s side extend their winning start to the season to six games. As things stand, the reigning champions are top of the league, as they attempt to win back-to-back titles.
placeholder image
Getty Images
Next up, the Gunners travel to take on Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium, in what should be an entertaining clash between two free-scoring sides. Arsenal’s opponents have netted twelve times in their last four matches, and came from two goals down in midweek to secure a famous 3-2 Carabao Cup win away at Manchester United.
Heading into Saturday afternoon’s game, Arsenal have a couple of injury concerns to deal with. Centre-back Cristhian Mosquera is closing in on a return from a thigh injury, and could make the bench against Brighton. However, with £55m new signing Ezri Konsa impressing, he’s unlikely to usurp the England star in the starting line-up any time soon.
Versatile defender Ben White was unable to feature in Arsenal’s last game against Ipswich, after being substituted at half-time against Sunderland last weekend due to a muscular problem. It remains to be seen whether he returns to the squad before the international break. France international William Saliba is expected to be out until at least the end of November.
Ahead of Arsenal’s trip to the Amex - a ground they’ve not lost at since 2020, when Neal Maupay grabbed a last-gasp winner for the Seagulls - we’ve taken a crack at predicting the most likely line-up Arteta will field against Brighton.
Will Timber start vs Brighton?
Jurrien Timber scored a disallowed goal against Sunderland on on his return from injury.placeholder image
Jurrien Timber scored a disallowed goal against Sunderland on on his return from injury. | Getty Images
Kepa Arrizabalaga started in goal against Ipswich Town, given that he’s Arsenal’s domestic cup goalkeeper. Number one David Raya will be back between the sticks this weekend, as he looks to rack up a fifth clean sheet of the season. As usual, Arteta will field a back four, and right-back Jurrien Timber looks set to make his first start for the club since the Champions League final, having now fully recovered from a groin injury.
With Saliba out for the foreseeable future and Mosquera only just back from injury, Ezri Konsa looks set to keep his starting spot in the heart of the Gunners’ defence. He’ll be joined by superstar Gabriel, who’s now just four games away for making his 200th Premier League appearance in an Arsenal shirt.
Over on the left flank, the buccaneering Ricardo Calafiori will come in for Miles Lewis-Skelly, who played the full ninety minutes against Ipswich. Calafiori has bagged two Premier League assists already this season and scored in the Community Shield clash against Manchester City back in mid-August.
Arsenal predicted XI vs Brighton: Midfield and attack
Arsenal's Bukayo Saka is looking back to his bestplaceholder image
Arsenal's Bukayo Saka is looking back to his best | AFP via Getty Images
Given how wild some of the transfer fees dropped by Premier League clubs were over the summer, the £75m spent on Bruno Guimaraes is starting to look like a bit of a bargain. The all-action ex-Newcastle United is set to slot in alongside Declan Rice, as the pair look to forge a formidable central midfield partnership this season.
On the right flank, Bukayo Saka will come back in for Noni Madueke, as he continues his encouraging return to form following his struggles with injuries and fitness last season. Over on the left, summer signing Christos Tzolis will come in for Eberechi Eze, while Max Dowman will be dropped for star number ten Martin Odegaard, despite the former netting a brace against Ipswich.
Kai Havertz will return to lead the line, with Viktor Gyokeres’ goal drought in competitive football for the Gunners now stretching back to early May. Conversely, Havertz has been in fine form, scoring in the Community Shield against Manchester City and bagging two Premier League goals so far this term - one of which was against his former club Chelsea.
Arsenal predicted line-up vs Brighton: Raya; Timber, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Guimaraes; Saka, Odegaard, Tzolis; Havertz.