Arsenal vs Brighton: 4 most likely solutions to left-back dilemma

3. Bukayo Saka Moving to Left-Back

This is clearly far from ideal as Bukayo Saka has been outstanding from the right-wing and leads the team with nine goals and five assists this season.

Yet, he has also shown he can be a useful contributor from basically anywhere on the pitch, including from left-back, which is where he played during Arteta’s first few months in charge.

Another positive here is that we do have options to replace Saka in attack, with Gabriel Martinelli and Nicolas Pepe both capable of filling in on the right wing. The Ivorian is due to return from illness in time for the weekend, and Brighton are a side he enjoys playing against with two goals against them in this fixture at the end of last season.

It just comes down to whether Arteta is willing to move his best attacking player out of his most effective position, which is a huge dilemma no matter how versatile Saka may be.

Saka at left-back fills a hole, but how great of a hole does it leave at right-winger?

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