13 min: Each time the ball finds its way back to the feet of Verbruggen, he stands over it for what seems like an eternity, trying to tempt Gabriel Jesus forward so he can take him out of the game with a quick pass out. The Arsenal striker isn’t having it.

12 min: Matt O’Riley’s corner is cleared as far as Nwaneri, who tries to break upfield on a counter-attack. He runs into Pervis Estupinan and loses the ball.

12 min: Brajan Gruda plays the ball wide to Joel Veltman, who wins a corner off Ricardo Calafiori.

9 min: Bart Verbruggen denies Gabriel Jesus after the Brazilian striker had been played in behind Jean Paul van Hecke by Jorginho. Offside but Jesus didn’t need to be and shouldn’t have been.

8 min: Now it’s Arsenal’s turn to try to build from the back as nothing much of note continues to happen in these opening 10 minutes.

7 min: Nwaneri tries to cut inside from the right flank but runs into a stout wall of resistance in the form of Igor and goes to ground.

5 min: With Thomas Tuchel present, I’m not saying there’s additional pressure on Declan Rice and Ethan Nwaneri, but they are the only two Englishmen on the pitch. Does the German actually want to be at this match, or is he just here to be seen being at this match?

4 min: Brighton try to build from the back again, taking their time as they try to draw various Arsenal players out of position. It’s been a slow start as both teams try to find their feet.

3 min: Joel Veltman is tripped as he tries to turn and clear the ball by the touchline deep in his own half. He wins a free-kick.

2 min: Bart Verbruggen gets an early touch and passes the ball wide to Igor, who loses it. Leandro Trossard gets on the ball and is booed by the fans of his former team.

Brighton v Arsenal is go …

Not long now: In the absence of Lewis Dunk, who is out with a calf injury, Joao Pedro leads Brighton out, while Jorginho wears the captain’s armband for Arsenal. In the stands, the new England manager Thomas Tuchel is present, having watched most of Tottenham’s match against Newcastle in London earlier this afternoon. Kick-off at the Amex Stadium is just a couple of minutes away.

Big Interview: Paul Barber Brighton’s chief executive on his mission to help youngsters and why the club are stronger after Chelsea’s raids. Words: Ed Aarons.

Martin Odegaard: Mikel Arteta has confirmed that his captain is on the bench this evening because he has been feeling poorly. Kai Havertz is also absent from the second matchday squad in a row due to that illness which seems to be doing the rounds of various top flight dressing-rooms.

Mikel Arteta: “It’s about supporting our players,” said the Arsenal manager when he was asked how he and his staff had helped Gabriel Jesus find his scoring boots after a long barren spell. “The players know they have to go through some periods sometimes which is not how they planned.

“As well, they have to believe in themselves and we have to make sure that if one day they doubt, we are there to recognise and make sure they feel from our side how much we like them and how happy we are to have them.”

Fabian Hurzeler: “Things happen for different reasons,” said Brighton’s German manager of his team’s seven-game winless run. “The experience gives you orientation in how to behave in these situations and how to come back to the results. In the end, there are some patterns you can adjust. Despite the bad results, we have had some really good performances. Always trust the process. We are on the right way.”

Today’s match officials

• Referee: Anthony Taylor.

• Assistants: Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn.

• Fourth official: Sam Barrott.

• VAR: Darren England.

• Assistant VAR: Akil Howson.

Those teams: Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli are surprise omissions from the Arsenal starting line-up, with Mikel Arteta bringing in Jorginho and former Brighton player Leandro Trossard to replace them as they drop to the bench. Declan Rice comes in for Jurrien Timber, who is suspended, which means we can expect to see Thomas Partey starting at right-back. Kai Havertz is not in the matchday squad.

Fabian Hurzeler makes three changes to the side that drew with Aston Villa last time out. Pervis Estupinan starts in place of Lewis Dunk, who is not in the matchday squad. The Ecuadorian will start at left-back, with Igor Julio moving inside to centre-back. Elsewhere in the Brighton back four, Joel Veltman comes in for Tariq Lamptey, while Matt O’Riley replaces Julio Enciso in midfield.

Brighton v Arsenal line-ups

Early team news

Arsenal right-back Jurrien Timber sits this one out through suspension, and with both Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu sidelined with knee injuries, Thomas Partey seems likely to deputise. One of Declan Rice or Kai Havertz is likely to come back into the side after missing Arsenal’s win over Brentford. Bukayo Saka remains out with a thigh injury, while the lesser-spotted Raheem Sterling is also unavailable through injury.

For Brighton, Ferdi Kadioglu, James Milner, Danny Welbeck, Evan Ferguson, Mats Wieffer and Jack Hinshelwood all remain out, but Adam Webster has been passed fir after recovering from a thigh injury and Pervis Estupinan could return after missing his side’s last game through illness.

Premier League: Brighton v Arsenal