Layth Yousif
Hello, how's your day been? A very warm welcome to the Gooner Fanzine's Brighton vs Arsenal Live Blog.
We'll be discussing all aspects of today's game at the Amex with Arsenal aiming to improve on their dismal 3-0 loss to Manchester City with a more positive result on the south coast against Brighton this afternoon.
Team news
While the news that Pablo Mari may miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury he picked up at the Etihad means Arteta’s backline is already threadbare just days into the restart of the league - with Arteta yet to decide whether to include or jettison Mesut Ozil for Saturday’s game.
If you throw in the fact that David Luiz misses the game through a two match suspension after a miserable 25 minute cameo which saw him allow Raheem Sterling space to fire home the opener before the former Chelsea man got himself sent off early in the second half then the absentee list grows daily. Not to mention Granit Xhaka who may also miss out thanks to the ankle injury he sustained in the opening minutes in Manchester.
Zech Medley travels with the squad to bolster numbers.
For Brighton long-term absentee Jose Izquierdo is the only player unavailable to head coach Graham Potter.
Join us for the latest news when the teams drop shortly...
Furious Arsenal players jostle with Brighton's matchwimner Maupay, furious he's even on the pitch after his challenge on Leno in the first half which saw the keeper stretchered off. Brighton do the double over Arsenal as Arteta's side lose two in two
GOAL: Brighton 2-1 Arsenal. Maupay fires the balls over Martinez for a late, late winner for the Seagulls.
Tierney replaces Saka with three minutes remaining as Arteta injects fresh legs in the hope of grabbing all three points
Random fact: Pepe's strike was Arsenal's first competitive goal in the month of June since Ian McPherson scored for the Gunners at Sheffield United on June 7, 1947
Brighton's Mat Ryan makes an excellent save from a swerving shot from Arsenal's Aubameyang, adjusting well to the movement of the ball.
GOAL: Brighton 1-1 Arsenal. Lewis Dunk reacts quickest after the ball spilled to him after Rob Holding's block following a cross from Solly March
Superb from Pepe there. He is a talented attacker and when he shows what he is capable of he is unstoppable. Excellent goal. Take a look if you haven't seen it already.
GOAL!!! Brighton 0-1 Arsenal. Pepe curls a superb left footed strike past Ryan and into the far corner to put the Gunners ahead.
GOOOOAAAAAALLLLL!
The pace of the game has understandably dropped in the summer heat and the fact both teams are not yet match fit. Just after the hour mark it remains Brighton 0-0 Arsenal.
Saka powers forward and sends Aubameyang through who races on to slot home. Ref Martin Atkinson rightly disallows the goal but it was so marginal the bloke on the Brighton PA played boos over the mic...
Do you think the bloke on the Brighton PA will put on the sound of boos from Arsenal fans when Neal Maupay touches the ball?
And we're off for the second half with the score Brighton 0-0 Arsenal
Correction it was Neal Maupay on Leno not Mooy of course.
Let's hope Bernd Leno is ok but it did look like a serious injury to his right leg. Do you think Brighton's Aaron Mooy was right to make the challenge he did on Arsenal's keeper?
Interesting Twitter comment from huge Arsenal fan Guy Wiseman at half-time on Leno as he says: "Unbelievable lack of criticism for a poor and pointless challenge on Leno. Don’t expect anything from Martin Atkinson but BT pundits should recognise a cynical challenge when they see one.'
HT: Brighton 0-0 Arsenal. Lively first half performance from the Gunners at the Amex overshadowed by Leno being stretchered off after falling awkwardly on his right leg.
Emi Martinez on for the stricken Leno. Has a good temperament. Recall being in Frankfurt when he played a blinder. Excellent save early on from Mooy to keep the score goalless as Arsenal aim to settle before half-time.
39 - Emi Martinez. Not Emirates Martinez. Stoopid spell-check...
39 - Emirates Martinez replaces the stricken Leno in goal for Arsenal
BT Sport refusing to show 'distressing' close-ups of Leno's injury after falling awkwardly on his right leg which buckled as he attempted to keep the ball in the box. Looks in pain as he is stretchered off. Could be a long-term injury for Arsenal's player of the season so far
35 - Leno goes down with an injury to his knee after falling awkwardly. Would be a big loss to Arsenal as he's played every league game this season and is by far the club's player of the season in my book
30 - Matt Ryan does well to save from Lacazette after Saka's low cross into the box sees the former Lyon striker go close
29 - Brighton's Dan Burn's late slide into Pepe sees him booked for an out of sorts challenge.
27 - Bellerin stops Aaron Mooy as Brighton flight the resulting free-kick over the box and out of play. Match has the feel of a pre-season friendly
Good to see Rob Holding back in defence. He was unlucky he suffered such a bad injury in December 2018 at Old Trafford which set him back and completely stalled his progress.
Arsenal looking lively against Brighton on the sunny south coast. Lacaztte had a shot blocked by Lewis Dunk early on who threw himself into the block. Don't know about you but I think Arsenal could do worse than take a look at Dunk. Mind you I've been saying that for a few years now...
8 - Superb effort from Bukayo Saka which thuds off the bar. Inches away from his first goal in the top flight for Arsenal. He looks good on the left hand side of midfield.
5 - Aubameyang fires over as Arsenal dominate the opening stages at the Amex
Arsenal eight points off fourth, five points off fourth. And a single point to avoid relegation.
Arsenal and Brighton take a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement
A minute's silence before Brighton vs Arsenal at the Amex as the Gunners sport badges on their red and white tops backing Black Lives Matter and the NHS
The teams are walking out onto the Amex pitch. Arsenal resplendent in red and white sporting badges in support of the NHS and Black Lives Matter. Well done to all concerned for doing so
Kick-off is nearly upon us. In other news I just popped out to my local shop to get a few bits to last me through the game while we do this blog. They actually had a box of chocolates called Arsenal (you can see a pic on my Twitter feed @laythy29). I just tasted one. No word of a lie it's crumbly and fell apart leaving a real sense of disappointment...
Arsenal subs: Martinez, Medley, Tierney, Maitland-Niles, Willock, Ozil, Nelson, Martinelli, Lacazette
Arsenal XI to face Brighton: Leno, Bellerin, Mustafi, Holding, Kolasinac, Pepe, Ceballos, Guendouzi, Saka, Aubameyang, Lacazette
While another huge Gooner Darren Boyle simply said: 'I want 2020 over...'
"This is the kind of game we should see what Arteta’s preparation can do. Citeh was a big ask midweek for this squad and we’ve been unlucky again with injuries. COYG!!" That message is from passionate Gooner Simon Morgan.
Arsenal are at the Amex. Team news will drop in five minutes. Thanks to everyone who's tweeted their score predictions. A mixed bag ranging between doom and hopeless optimism. Just yer usual Saturday watching the Arsenal then...
You can post your thoughts at the bottom of our live blog or tweet me @laythy29 and @goonerfanzine. Scoreline prediction please...
So. How do you feel about Brighton vs Arsenal? A) Can't wait, looking forward to it. B) Another 90 minutes of doom... C) Don't care, I'd rather grout the patio Penny for your pre-match thoughts?