Arsenal predicted line-up vs. Brighton: Eight changes made as £230m quartet set to return

Arsenal will have to be at their best if they want to boost their bid for a first Premier League title in two decades when they host Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday. Despite having the added distraction of competing in European football for the first time in their history, the Seagulls have continued to impress in the Premier League and could force themselves into contention for a top four finish by claiming all three points at the Emirates Stadium.

For Arsenal, the game is an opportunity to continue their impressive record on their home patch after Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur became the only two clubs to take a point from a visit to the Emirates so far this season.

It has been a mixed week for Mikel Arteta and his players after last weekend's narrow defeat at in-form Aston Villa was followed by a midweek draw at PSV Eindhoven as the Gunners brought down the curtain on what has been a successful Champions League group stage campaign.

The draw at the Philips Stadion saw Arteta make wholesale changes to his side as the likes of Aaron Ramsdale, Jorginho, Reiss Nelson and Fantasy Premier League bargain buy Eddie Nketiah were all given a chance to impress after struggling to hold down a regular place in the Gunners side so far this season. Whether they did enough to impress their manager remains to be seen as Arteta faces up to some major calls ahead of Sunday's meeting with Roberto Di Zerbi's side.

Arsenal injury news

Two players that can definitely be ruled out of Sunday's game are Fabio Vieira and Takehiro Tomiyasu and it is expected neither will return to contention until the last week of January.

Speaking of the latter's injury and a possible return date, Arteta said:  "We had a scan, and it's not good news. He's got an injury in his calf, and he's going to be out for a while." Summer signing Jurrien Timber still has no return date as he works his way back from the serious knee injury he suffered on his Gunners debut against Nottingham Forest in August. There had been some suggestions the former Ajax man could make an earlier-than-expected return - but any hopes were dashed by Arteta last week.

He said:  "He's flying, to be fair. The way he works every single day is incredibly satisfying to watch, but unfortunately, we're going to miss him still for a long time. I think he's in a really good place."

Midfielder Thomas Partey is approaching a return to fitness but is not expected to be unavailable until the home game against West Ham United in two week's time. Fellow midfielder Mohamed Elneny has no return date following the thigh injury he picked up in the draw in Eindhoven. There should be one positive piece of news for Arteta as winger Gabriel Martinelli looks set to return to contention after he missed the midweek draw with an illness.

Arsenal predicted XI

Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Odegaard, Rice, Havertz, Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.