Arsenal’s preparations for their upcoming Premier League clash against Brighton have been hit by a suspension blow, with Jurrien Timber ruled out after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season in the recent victory over Brentford. Timber’s late, high challenge saw him hit the booking threshold just before the mid-season reset, forcing him to miss the crucial Saturday trip.

The timing couldn’t be worse for manager Mikel Arteta, who is grappling with a depleted squad. First-choice right-back Ben White remains sidelined with an injury, with no clear return date yet. Takehiro Tomiyasu, another defensive option, is also unavailable. Thomas Partey is now Arsenal’s most natural candidate for the right-back role, though he has recently been featuring in midfield alongside Mikel Merino and Martin Odegaard.

Further compounding Arsenal’s challenges are injuries to key players Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz, as well as fitness management concerns for Declan Rice, who was benched during the Brentford game.

The Gunners showed resilience at Brentford, where they rallied from Bryan Mbeumo’s early goal to secure a 3-1 victory. Gabriel Jesus shone as a standout, scoring the equaliser after seizing on a rebound from Mark Flekken’s parry. However, the growing defensive conundrum poses a serious test for Arteta’s squad depth as they continue their title pursuit.