Saka leads Arsenal in fouls drawn through the first two Premier League matches of the season, picking up a total of six – at least two more than any other player in Mikel Arteta’s squad.

The England international has been fouled at least twice in both Premier League outings so far this season, including two at home against Wolves on the opening day and then four against Aston Villa last weekend.

Including last season, Saka has been fouled at least twice in 12 of his last 13 encounters for Arsenal, plus in five of seven for England at Euro 2024.

Last season, he won six fouls in Arsenal’s two Premier League fixtures with Brighton, including four in the home encounter shortly before Christmas. Although his involvement in terms of foul winning in the second fixture was reduced to just a couple of free kicks, he was withdrawn shortly after the hour mark. He is likely to play the majority of the fixture at the Emirates.

Saka will operate down the same wing as Kaoru Mitoma, who is joint top of Brighton’s fouls count, having given away three so far. The Japanese will likely be asked to double up on Saka at times.

No Arsenal player has had more shots than Kai Havertz, who has mustered six in the opening two Premier League matches of the season – equal with Bukayo Saka in this regard.

The Germany international will be high in confidence coming into this match. The 25-year-old has already got a Premier League goal to his credit this season and also bagged strikes in both fixtures against Brighton last term, which is liable to make him more comfortable about having shots at goal.

In last season’s home encounter against the Seagulls, Havertz had four shots at goal, and managed another two in the return game.

Havertz has played the full match in both Premier League outings this term, suggesting that he is a player that Arteta is increasingly willing to put his confidence in for the full duration of matches. Only taken off once in his last ten competitive fixtures for the Gunners – that in the 5-0 rout of Chelsea last season in which he had already scored twice.

Brighton have been relatively untroubled through the middle of their defence this season but have played a poor offensive team in the form of Everton, while Manchester United started with a false 9 last week and were relatively feeble, too. Havertz offers their first real test.

Van Hecke is one of three Brighton players to have committed three fouls in the first two matches of the Premier League season. The 24-year-old gave away one foul against Everton before committing two against Manchester United last weekend.

Going back to last season, the Dutchman has given away at least one foul in eight of his last 10 matches across all competitions, even committing two fouls in four games. Included in this run was an April fixture against Arsenal, in which he committed one foul.

The centre-back is liable to come head-to-head with Arsenal’s Kai Havertz, who has been Arteta’s preferred option in the No.9 role ahead of Gabriel Jesus so far this season. Havertz is heavily involved in the fouls market, giving many away but also winning lots for his team. The German has won four free kicks already this season at a rate of 2.0 per game.

Van Hecke is liable to be given the whole 90 minutes. When starting last season he was not once taken off in any competitive fixture. As such, he is more than likely to get the whole match to give away a free kick.

Danny Welbeck is a player in form, having scored in each of the first two Premier League matches of the season against Everton and Manchester United.

The ex-Arsenal man netted against his another of his former sides last weekend and will be motivated to do the same versus the Gunners. This is likely to see his shot count increase. Welbeck already leads the Seagulls in both goals and shots, while he has had three shots on target this season. This is a club-high figure tied with Kaoru Mitoma.

Welbeck has had shots on target in 12 of his last 18 starts for Brighton dating back to Christmas 2023. This suggests that odds of 2.2 on him doing the same here are rather generous, even if Arsenal were one of the teams he did not threaten during this run.

The Gunners have given up shots on target to opposing centre-forwards already this season. Ollie Watkins had one for Aston Villa last weekend while Jorgen Strand Larsen mustered one for Wolves at the Emirates on the opening weekend of the season.

Kai Havertz is in a real purple patch in front of goal for Arsenal, dating back to last season. As well as scoring against Wolves in the opening Premier League fixture of the campaign, he netted in three of his last five top-flight outings for the Gunners last term.

He has strong history against Brighton. Last season he scored in both matches against the South Coast side, which will further reinforce the confidence that he will feel following his recent burst of goals.

Havertz is the Arsenal player who is getting himself into the most dangerous shooting positions too. This is illustrated by the fact that he has generated 0.7xG across his two matches so far, which is nearly twice that of any other member of the squad. Bukayo Saka, who has also had six shots, comes next on 0.4xG. Havertz’s efforts have come from an average of 12.6 yards out, showing that he is often getting close to goal and, thereby increasing his chances of scoring.

Brighton have been an active offensive team in the early weeks of the campaign, managing nine shots on target. This ranks sixth in the Premier League, just one behind Arsenal. The Seagulls, who mustered four against Manchester United last weekend from 14 total shots, carry a not inconsiderable threat.

The visitors’ confidence is up and, if last weekend’s match against Manchester United is anything to go by, new manager Fabian Hurzeler is liable to adopt a forward-thinking approach. Would be little surprise to see the former St Pauli boss take a romantic stance and really try to have a go at Arsenal. His side led the 2.Bundesliga in shots (16.0) and shots on target (5.41) last season so he likes to attack.

Arsenal’s keeper David Raya is averaging three saves per 90 so far this season, making three each in the fixtures against Wolves and Aston Villa. Brighton should be capable of posing the Arsenal defence similar difficulties.

Raya has shown himself to be in excellent form so far this season and will not be easily beaten. An incredible stop from Watkins last weekend is arguably the save of the campaign so far in England’s top-flight, showcasing a keeper at the peak of his powers.