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Football London
Football London
Sport
Chris Davison

Mikel Arteta makes huge Nuno Tavares call vs Brighton as Sambi Lokonga replaces Thomas Partey

Today presents a huge opportunity for Arsenal to make up for a disappointing result away to Crystal Palace on Monday, but Mikel Arteta's men will have to get the job done without some of their key players.

The Spaniard has been forced to make a couple of changes after Kieran Tierney and Thomas Partey were ruled out due to injury. It means Albert Sambi Lokonga starts alongside Martin Odegaard in midfield while Granit Xhaka replaces Nuno Tavares at left-back.

This will be a further blow to Tavares' confidence following an underwhelming 45 minutes against Palace which saw him substituted off at half-time. Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White, Cedric Soares and Gabriel also start at the back.

READ MORE: Arsenal vs Brighton LIVE: Kick-off time, TV channel, confirmed team news, live stream details

Going forward, the front three consists of Bukayo Saka, Alexandre Lacazette and Gabriel Martinelli. Lacazette has gone 19 hours and 23 minutes of Premier League football without scoring a goal from open play, so the Frenchman will no doubt be keen on removing that record from his name.

Three academy stars make the bench, with Omari Hutchinson, Zak Swanson and Miguel Azeez all involved. They join Bernd Leno, Rob Holding, Mohamed Elneny, Nicolas Pepe, Eddie Nketiah and the aforementioned Tavares. Let's take a look at what the supporters make of Arteta's team selection.

@deemonch: Loving that.

@Official_Conz1: Tavares has to start how is this gonna help is confidence

@SSohaard: Xhaka at left back . I hope for Lokonga to have a good game. Let’s win three points and get back into top 4

@AfcNas: 433 by the looks of it, a huge risk playing Xhaka at left back when we have no Partey in the middle. Hoping that the shape somehow allows Xhaka to play more central than out wide.

@4TheArsenal_: Come on you reds! Brave line up from the gaffer. Let’s go

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