Mikel Arteta can make eight changes to Arsenal team for Brighton clash including new first start

Arsenal’s clash against Brighton in theLeague Cupwill bring back bad memories from the 3-1 home defeat in November of 2022. Looking back, it is a credit to the squad’s overhaul just quite how far the Gunners have come.

William Saliba is the only survivor of the starting XI from that day. Karl Hein started behind the Frenchman in goal, with Rob Holding as his defensive partner. Cedric Soares and Kieran Tierney were the full-backs.

Mohamed Elneny and Albert Sambi Lokonga paired in central midfield with Fabio Vieira in the No.10 role. Eddie Nketiah led a front three flanked by Reiss Nelson and Marquinhos.

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This time around, Mikel Arteta may have as many as eight first-team players missing through injury. Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke, and Gabriel Jesus are out with long-term issues.

Meanwhile, the aforementioned Saliba was taken off with a knock on Sunday afternoon in the win over Crystal Palace, while Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Martinelli were also believed to have suffered knocks. Despite all that, Arteta can still make eight changes to the starting XI from the side that beat the Eagles and field a team which, frankly, and with respect, puts that 2022 XI to shame.

Kepa Arrizabalaga is expected to make his second appearance since his first game against Port Vale in the previous round of the competition. Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera, Piero Hincapie and Myles Lewis-Skelly could all start ahead of the Spaniard.

Christian Norgaard could play at the base of the midfield alongside Mikel Merino. Then Ethan Nwaneri operates in the No.10 role with a near-unchanged front three.

Bukayo Saka and Viktor Gyokeres both keep their places in the forward line. However, Eberechi Eze is pushed to the wide left role with Martinelli's fitness in question and Trossard rested for the trip to Burnley.

Changed Arsenal XI vs Brighton: Kepa; White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Norgaard, Merino, Nwaneri; Saka, Gyokeres, Eze.