Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs Brighton: Demons to Banish

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates with teammates Emile Smith Rowe, Alexandre Lacazette, and Hector Bellerin after scoring his team's third goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on December 26, 2020 in London, England. The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. (Photo by Andrew Boyers - Pool/Getty Images) /

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LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 26: Emile Smith Rowe of Arsenal (Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images) /

Midfielders

Mohamed Elneny (CM) – While it wasn’t Elneny’s finest display against the Blues, his role as the deepest midfielder is not under threat while Thomas Partey remains absent. Until the Ghanaian’s return, or when Miguel Azeez is given his chance, Elneny stays in.

Emile Smith Rowe (AM) – One the one hand, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Smith Rowe dropped for this one, purely for the sake of fitness and getting him up to speed with the Premier League. However, Arsenal were a better structured attacking unit with him in the side and his 65th minute substitution hints he could get the nod.

Allowing him to start matches and play 60 or so minutes is a much wiser approach to building up that fitness as opposed to giving him 30 or so minutes late on in matches. Your ability to influence is distinctly greater from the off.

Granit Xhaka (CM) – Is there any player who loves clawing his way back from adversity quite like Granit Xhaka? The Swiss performed admirably on Saturday, with his performance capped off by an excellent free-kick just before half-time. Arteta loves him, he won’t be dropped.

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