Brightonvs.Arsenal

The one-time Gunner is still struggling with an ankle problem and is one of five guaranteed injury absentees for the Seagulls alongside Mats Wieffer (leg), Evan Ferguson (ankle), James Milner (hamstring) and Ferdi Kadioglu (toe).

Fabian Hurzeler has also confirmed that the clash with Arsenal comes too soon for £11m signing Diego Gomez to make his first appearance, but there is a chance that Pervis Estupinan (illness), Adam Webster (hamstring) and Jack Hinshelwood (knee) could all be available.

However, only Estupinan should be in with a shout of making the starting lineup against the Gunners, potentially taking Igor's place at left-back in an otherwise unchanged backline for the hosts.

Lewis Dunk, Jan Paul van Hecke and Tariq Lamptey - scorer of a fine leveller in the 2-2 draw with Aston Villa in midweek - are primed to protect Bart Verbruggen, apparently on the radar of Manchester United.

In-demand midfielder Carlos Baleba will also helm the engine room, but Hurzeler may see fit to bring Matt O'Riley in for Yasin Ayari, in addition to making a couple of alterations further forward.

Simon Adingra and Joao Pedro can expect to reprise their roles, but Georginio Rutter and Kaoru Mitoma could benefit from some rotation to displace Julio Enciso and Brajan Gruda.

Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:

Verbruggen; Lamptey, Dunk, Van Hecke, Estupinan; Baleba, O'Riley; Adingra, Rutter, Mitoma; Pedro

Written by

Ben Knapton