Arsenal step outside of London for the first time since November with a trip to Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Gunners have weathered the capital clashes without much fanfare, managing seven wins from nine games. The only obstacles to Mikel ArtetaHis team drew with Fulham and Everton.
A short excursion to the south coast this weekend precedes a run of five consecutive games in four different competitions at the Emirates Stadium. Before returning to the comforts of home, here's how Arteta could line up for a rare trip across the M25.
GK: David Raya – Reflecting on his playing days, which have included winning promotion to the top flight, he Premier League A Golden Glove and European Championship winner last summer, Raya was loaned out on a three-month loan to Stockport as “the best of my career”. “We trained at the local university,” he recalled fondly. “You took the bag home to wash, you came with the bag, the towel.”
RB: Thomas Partey – Perhaps apart from Pep Guardiola's praise for a beaten opponent, there are few things in the Premier League as unconvincing as Thomas Partey's ability to play on the right wing. Brighton's fleet of flying wings will look to undermine the natural midfielder even further this weekend.
CB: William Saliba – Arsenal's outstanding player for 2024 started 2025 with another commanding performance against Brentford.
CB: Gabriel Magalhaes – A game against Brighton is always a scary game for Gabriel. Arsenal's Brazilian centre-back has lost as many teeth as games against the Seagulls (three each).
LB: Myles Lewis-Skelly – The teenage backup has blossomed into a competent starter over the past two weeks. After Riccardo Calafiori rusty return to action against Brentford in midweek, Lewis-Skelly could be called upon again to avoid overstretching the Italian.
CM: Martin Odegaard – Hans Erik Odegaard, Martin's father and a former senior midfielder in Norway, was part of a group of parents who spent £50,000 to refurbish the local pitch in Drammen, where his son spent hours honing his skills .
CM: Declan Rice – Forced into the unusual role of substitute twice in the last fortnight as Arteta manages the midfielder's minutes of late, Arsenal could do with RICE in the starting XI for a tough trip down south.
CM: Mikel Merino – The fear in Merino's voice when he described his first training sessions at Arsenal was palpable. “It's something that's amazing,” the midfielder said. They do some things that I've never seen in my career.” Maybe he didn't look Amazon documentary which highlighted Arteta's use of lamps, extension cords and speakers on the tar side.
RW: Gabriel Martinelli – Joao Carlos, Martinelli's father, was a strict coach. “I always told him that a professional footballer must be able to shoot with both feet,” he recalled. “You're not going to be perfect on your weaker side, but you have to have it as an option. He would do 150 kicks with just his left foot. It sounds like I'm exaggerating, but I'm not.” Practice hasn't made perfect – Martinelli's left-footed conversion rate (11.7%) isn't as good as his stronger side (16.5%).
ST: Gabriel Jesus – Almost a quarter of Jesus' career goals for Arsenal has arrived in his last four appearances.
LW: Leandro Trossard – Described by Arteta as “a bit of a whiner” earlier this week, the former Brighton striker will be on the receiving end of some uncomfortable groans and go on his return to the AMEX.