Arsenal begin their second half of the Premier League season away from home against Brighton and Hove Albion, albeit without one of their key defenders.

Jurrien Timber will miss the Brighton game after picking up a yellow card in the 17th minute against Brentford on New Year’s Day. The yellow card was Timber’s seventh of the season, meaning he will serve a one-match ban for accumulation.

Timber’s absence presents a defensive conundrum for Mikel Arteta. On the one hand, he has options, but he risks upsetting other parts of the team.

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Candidates for the right-back position are Riccardo Calafiori and Thomas Partey. If Calafiori, naturally a left-sided defender, moves, that means Myles Lewis-Skelly would likely replace the Italian as he completes the backline. Of course, if Partey starts in defense, Declan Rice would return to his starting position.

Partey was strong in midfield against Brentford but looked shaky at times when patrolling the right side. If Calafiori switches sides, Arteta might feel more comfortable starting Ethan Nwaneri again in place of Bukayo Saka. Regardless, the defense will be chopped up and changed in just the second game of the new year.

In all likelihood, Arteta will opt to simply put Partey in the back row against a threatening Brighton team.

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