Brighton vs Arsenal LIVE SCORE: Bukayo Saka RETURNS as Gunners look to reclaim top spot – latest updates

Londoners continue to keep it clean

As mentioned earlier, Arsenal have kept four successive away clean sheets in the Premier League, the most recent being that big – albeit boring – goalless draw at Manchester City last Sunday.

Only once before in their league history have the Gunners kept five away clean sheets in a row, doing so between February and April 1997 under Arsene Wenger.

White brings up Arsenal milestone

You won’t find him in the England team, but he’s a regular of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side.

And with his selection in today’s starting line-up, Ben White is set to make his 100th Premier League appearance for the Gunners.

Saka and Rice return for Arsenal

Mikel Arteta rested some of his star names for the midweek win over Luton, but he’s brought four back for today’s trip to Brighton.

Returning are Declan Rice, Jorginho, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus as Thomas Partey, Emile Smith Rowe and Leandro Trossard drop to the bench; there is no place in the squad for Reiss Nelson.

Arsenal (4-3-3): 22 Raya; 4 White, 2 Saliba, 6 Gabriel, 35 Zinchenko; 8 Odegaard, 20 Jorginho, 41 Rice; 7 Saka, 29 Havertz, 9 Jesus

Substitutes: 1 Ramsdale, 5 Partey, 10 Smith Rowe, 11 Martinelli, 14 Nketiah, 15 Kiwior, 18 Tomiyasu, 19 Trossard, 21 Vieira

Welbeck starts against former club

Roberto De Zerbi is no stranger to making wholesale changes, he’s made more than any other Premier League manager this season.

It’s five tonight for the Italian boss, who brings in Tariq Lamptey, Pervis Estupinan, Jakub Moder, Julio Enciso and former Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck.

Subsequently, Joel Veltman, Igor, Facundo Buonanotte, Adam Lallana and Joao Pedro find themselves back on the bench.

Brighton (4-2-3-1): 1 Verbruggen; 2 Lamptey, 29 Van Hecke, 5 Dunk, 30 Estupinan; 20 Baleba, 15 Moder; 10 Enciso, 13 Gross, 24 Adingra; 18 Welbeck

Substitutes: 23 Steele, 3 Igor, 9 Pedro, 14 Lallana, 19 Barco, 31 Fati, 34 Veltman, 40 Buonanotte, 44 Peupion

Seagulls flying on home run

While Arsenal’s away form has the bene the subject of much attention, Brighton have been quietly building themselves a fortress by the sea.

Since losing 3-1 to West Ham back in August, the Seagulls are unbeaten in 12 Premier League home matches (W6 D6).

It is their longest unbeaten run at the Amex Stadium since promotion to the top-flight in 2017.

Gunners odds-on more away day joy

Arsenal’s recent form on the road has been nothing short of magnificent, and so it’s perhaps no surprise that the Londoners are majorly odds-on for another away victory tonight. The Gunners drew 0-0 at Manchester City a week ago, following 6-0 wins at Sheffield United and West Ham that sandwiched a 5-0 success at Burnley.

• Brighton win 5/1
• Draw 16/5
• Arsenal win 1/2

Odds from Paddy Power correct at the time of post publication.

Good afternoon from the Amex

Welcome to live SunSport coverage of Arsenal’s Premier League away match at Brighton and Hove Albion.

The title race turns its attention to the south coast and the Gunners as they’re presented with their opportunity to sit top of the pile.

After Manchester City won this lunchtime – and with Liverpool in action at Manchester United tomorrow – a similar three points for Mikel Arteta’s men will lift them above their two rivals for the night.

It’s a 5.30pm kick-off in Falmer, and confirmation of the starting line-ups will be with us shortly.