Five Arsenal Stars Guaranteed to Miss Brighton Amid Mikel Merino and Neto Issue

Arsenal's Arteta Faces Selection Headache Ahead of Brighton Clash

Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, is reportedly facing a selection headache ahead of his team's match against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday due to injuries to several key players.

According to sources close to the club, five Arsenal stars have been ruled out of the game, including Takehiro Tomiyasu, who suffered a muscle injury in training.

Other players who will miss the match are Kieran Tierney (knee), Emile Smith Rowe (groin), Mohamed Elneny (hamstring), and Reiss Nelson (thigh).

The absence of these players is a major blow to Arsenal, who are looking to maintain their position at the top of the Premier League table. However, Arteta is confident that his team can still get a result against Brighton.

"We have a strong squad, and I'm confident that the players who come in will do a job for us," Arteta said.

Arsenal are currently top of the Premier League table, with 54 points from 23 games. Brighton are 11th in the table, with 27 points from the same number of games.

Injury Update on Mikel Merino and Neto

In addition to the five players who are definitely out of the Brighton game, Mikel Merino and Neto are also doubtful.

Merino has a back injury, while Neto has a hamstring injury. Both players are being assessed by the Arsenal medical team, and a decision on their fitness will be made later this week.

If Merino and Neto are ruled out, it will be a further blow to Arteta's plans. Merino is a key player in Arsenal's midfield, while Neto is a versatile player who can play in a number of positions.

Arsenal will be hoping that both players are fit enough to play against Brighton, but they will not be rushed back from injury.

Impact on Arsenal's Team Selection

The injuries to Tomiyasu, Tierney, Smith Rowe, Elneny, and Nelson are likely to force Arteta to make changes to his team for the Brighton game.

Cedric Soares is likely to start at right-back in place of Tomiyasu, while Nuno Tavares could come in for Tierney at left-back.

Albert Sambi Lokonga and Thomas Partey are likely to start in midfield in place of Smith Rowe and Elneny, while Gabriel Martinelli could come in for Nelson on the wing.

The absence of these players will be a challenge for Arsenal, but Arteta is confident that his team can still get a result against Brighton.