Arsenal will be without Jurrien Timber for their Premier League match against Brighton and Hove Albion due to a suspension. Timber received his seventh yellow card of the season in the 17th minute during the New Year’s Day match against Brentford, which means he will miss the Brighton game as a result of the accumulation of yellow cards.
Timber’s absence poses a challenge for manager Mikel Arteta, particularly in defense, as he has to decide how to adjust his lineup without disrupting other areas of the team.
Potential Replacements for Timber
There are a few options Arteta could consider to fill Timber’s role at right back:
- Riccardo Calafiori could shift to the right-back position, but this would require Myles Lewis-Skelly to come in and cover for Calafiori on the left side of defense.
- Thomas Partey could also be deployed in defense, which would see Declan Rice revert to his usual midfield position. However, Partey has been solid in midfield but has shown some inconsistency when playing at right back.
In both cases, Arteta faces a delicate balancing act as any defensive reshuffle could impact the overall team dynamics. If Calafiori plays at right back, Arteta might be more inclined to start Ethan Nwaneri in Bukayo Saka’s place on the right wing.
Arsenal’s Predicted Lineup vs. Brighton (4-3-3)
- GK: David Raya
- RB: Thomas Partey
- CB: William Saliba
- CB: Gabriel
- LB: Riccardo Calafiori
- CM: Declan Rice
- CM: Martin Ødegaard
- CM: Mikel Merino
- RW: Gabriel Jesus
- ST: Kai Havertz
- LW: Gabriel Martinelli
In all likelihood, Arteta will opt to deploy Partey in defense, particularly against a strong Brighton side, to maintain the team’s stability.
