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Arsenal fans hail Mikel Arteta for selection decision vs Brighton - 'Finally'
Arsenal face Brighton and Hove Albion at the AMEX Stadium in their second game of the Premier League restart on Saturday (3pm).
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Arsenal fans are delighted by Mikel Arteta's decision to include Nicolas Pepe in the starting XI for today's Premier League clash against Brighton and Hove Albion.
The Gunners endured a nightmare Premier League restart on Wednesday, suffering a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Raheem Sterling capitalised on a David Luiz error on the stroke of half-time before Luiz gave away a penalty after the break, which was converted by Kevin de Bruyne. Phil Foden put the icing on the cake with an injury-time effort.
Mikel Arteta's troops had little time to recover but the head coach has shuffled the pack in a bid to spark a bounce back, making five changes to his starting XI.
Nicolas Pepe is among the players to be included from the off after spending the City clash on the bench.
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And Arsenal fans are delighted to see the £72million forward back in action.
"Pepe," wrote one fan on Twitter followed by a heart emoji and a fire emoji.
"FINALLY PEPE," commented a second.
"PEPEEEE," screamed a third.
"Pepe let’s gooooo," added a fourth.
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It looks like Arsenal will be deployed in a 4-4-2 formation due to Bukayo Saka also being named in the starting XI.
Rob Holding and Sead Kolasinac replace Pablo Mari and Kieran Tierney, who drops to the bench, in defence.
Dani Ceballos lines up in midfield in place of Granit Xhaka, who suffered an early injury against City, while Alexandre Lacazette takes Eddie Nketiah's place in attack.
Joe Willock drops to the bench for Pepe to come in. He is joined as a substitute by Mesut Ozil, who was dropped for the City trip for "tactical reasons".
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Brighton vs Arsenal line ups
Brighton: Ryan, Schelotto, Webster, Dunk, Burn, Bissouma, Propper, Mooy, Gross, Maupay, Trossard.
Subs: Button, Montoya, Lamptey, Duffy, Stephens, Mac Allister, March, Murray, Connolly.
Arsenal: Leno, Bellerin, Mustafi, Holding, Kolasinac, Pepe, Ceballos, Guendouzi, Saka, Aubameyang, Lacazette.
Subs: Martinez, Maitland-Niles, Medley, Tierney, Willock, Nelson, Ozil, Nketiah, Martinelli.
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