Arsenal have confirmed their team news ahead of the Premier League clash with Brighton, and there’s currently just one absentee.

In an update on their website, Arsenal confirmed that Granit Xhaka is the only player absent through injury ahead of this weekend’s trip to Brighton.

As covered previously, Xhaka has a significant injury to his medial knee ligament. After specialist consultation, they’ve determined he doesn’t require surgery, but he will need a fairly lengthy rehabilitation period.

Arsenal write that Xhaka’s recovery programme will start immediately and put him back in action in around three months. So we may see him back on the pitch days before the end of 2021.

Other than that, Arsenal write that all other players in the men’s first-team squad are currently fit and available for selection.

In all, this update is a positive one. We already knew Xhaka would be out for a while, but at least he’s the only one missing.

Arsenal just need to keep it that way, because there really aren’t too many midfield backups if more of them pick up injuries.

The other small consolation in the timing of Xhaka’s injury is that it comes right before an international break, with another break planned in November. So at least a few weeks of his absence will be during scheduled gaps in club football.