Arsenal return to action in the Premier League on Saturday evening with a trip to Selhurst Park.
After the Gunners beat Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup quarter-final in midweek, Mikel Arteta’s side will come up against the Eagles once again.
This time, the fixture will have three points on the line rather than a cup semi-final, with Oliver Glasner hoping to combat one Arsenal strength.
Palace lost in the cup but put up a fight against the hosts, who had to come from behind to win, giving Arteta an idea of the challenge that awaits his squad.
Injury boost for Arsenal in latest team news
In what has been a testing season for Arsenal on the injury front, Arteta received a long-awaited boost ahead of facing Palace for the second time in a week.
Arsenal’s injury boost comes in the form of defenders Riccardo Calafiori and Oleksandr Zinchenko being fit, as well as midfielder Declan Rice.
After Arteta asked Calafiori to slow down on his race to full fitness, the Italian is in contention to play on Saturday afternoon.
The same goes in midfield, as after Rice was rested against Palace in the EFL Cup, the Englishman is confirmed to be fully fit.
While the news is positive for Arteta, in what has been a difficult time in the treatment room, it does give the Arsenal manager a bit of a headache over selection.
Predicted Arsenal lineup to play Crystal Palace
At the back, the positions of David Raya, Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba are guaranteed, as is the presence of Jurrien Timber at right back.
Despite Keiran Tierney impressing against Palace in midweek, the Scotsman will likely return to the bench to see Myles Lewis-Skelly earn his second consecutive Premier League start.
This means that Calafiori would start on the bench, which could be smart given how long he has been away from the action.
In midfield is where the most change could happen, as Declan Rice will likely be restored to the starting XI, joined by Martin Odegaard and possibly, Kai Havertz.
The German could be utilised in a deeper role of attack to make his number nine spot vacant for the searing form of Gabriel Jesus.
Arteta hinted that Jesus will have more involvement in the Arsenal squad after his stellar hat-trick against Palace, which has surely earned him another start.
On the wings are Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, who has a point to prove amid criticism of his ongoing lack of form.
- Full Arsenal PXI: Raya; Lewis-Skelly, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Rice, Odegaard, Havertz; Saka, Martinelli, Jesus
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
