Arsenal in search of three consecutive victories as Brighton visits.
Arsenal vs
Brighton & Hove Albion
In an early kick-off clash, Arsenal host Brighton at the Emirates, as both teams look to maintain their perfect start in a battle for early season supremacy.
Arsenal
Following a comfortable 2-0 win over Aston Villa, Arsenal now boast two wins in their first two games. A goal from Leandro Trossard in the 67th minute and another from Thomas Partey ten minutes later helped secure their position in third place. Arsenal shares six points with Manchester City, Liverpool, and Saturday’s opponents, Brighton.
Picking up three consecutive wins is a top priority for Arteta, and recent results suggest their clash with the Seagulls shouldn't be too concerning. Arsenal has won three of their last four Premier League games against Brighton, with their current record standing at three wins, zero draws, and one loss. Historically, they had only won three of their previous ten encounters with the Seagulls.
A victory on Saturday would grant the Gunners their third consecutive win at the start of the season, a feat achieved only once before under Mikel Arteta. Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Kai Havertz are expected to maintain their places in Arteta’s attacking 4-3-3 formation. However, Gabriel Jesus, recovering from a groin injury, is likely to return after the international break, while Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney remain sidelined with injuries.
Brighton & Hove Albion
Fabian Hürzeler seems to be thriving as Brighton's new manager, having secured consecutive wins, including a 2-1 victory over Manchester United last weekend. Danny Welbeck scored first against his former club, and although Amad Diallo later equalized, João Pedro netted the winning goal deep in stoppage time.
Securing a victory against Arsenal would be perfect for Brighton, but visiting London hasn't been fruitful recently. The team remains winless in their last seven trips to the capital, with a record of four losses and three draws.
A 4-2-3-1 formation with Danny Welbeck leading the attack is expected against the Gunners. Welbeck will be eager to score against another former team, after netting against Manchester United.
Solly March is unavailable for this weekend's fixture, while Matt O’Riley is set to undergo surgery following an ankle injury sustained during his debut against Crawley Town in the Carabao Cup. "It’s like we expected, a bad injury," said Hürzeler in a pre-match press conference on Thursday morning.
