Arsenal travel to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace this evening.
Arsenal will be looking to maintain their winning start to the new Premier League season against Crystal Palace today.
Mikel Arteta will have several big decisions to make when it comes to picking his team. He sprung some surprises with his Arsenal starting XI against Nottingham Forest last time out. Gabriel Magalhaes was left out for the first time in 73 Premier League fixtures, whilst Thomas Partey was deployed at right-back.
The Gunners are in for a tough challenge against Crystal Palace. The Eagles’ own season got off to a great start with a well-earned win over Sheffield United, and they have a good record at home. Roy Hodgson will set his side out to frustrate Arsenal.
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Arteta will still be confident that his side have what it takes to return to the Emirates Stadium with three points in tow.
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Who will start for Arsenal vs Crystal Palace?
Aaron Ramsdale will remain first choice between the sticks, despite the recent arrival of David Raya, who will be on the bench for the first time. The England man knows he now has to be consistently at the top of his game.
Arteta is likely to return to a more familiar rearguard for this match. Ebereche Eze is Crystal Palace’s key threat, and loves to drift into the left-wing channel. Ben White should be reinstated at right-back to manage Eze, and support Bukayo Saka.
Meanwhile, Gabriel will likely resume his responsibilities alongside William Saliba in the heart of the Arsenal defence. Equally, if Oleksandr Zinchenko is fit to start then he surely will. The 53-cap Ukraine international adds an extra dimension to the Gunners’ build up play. If he isn’t yet ready for a start though, Takehiro Tomiyasu will expect to get the nod ahead of Kieran Tierney.
Crystal Palace have a strong midfield pair in Cheick Doucoure and summer signing Jefferson Lerma. Both Thomas Partey and Declan Rice will be needed in the middle of park to ensure that Arteta’s side can take control of the game and monitor the threat of Eze.
Club captain Martin Odegaard will round out the midfield trio for this tricky away trip, with £65 million summer signing Kai Havertz possibly dropping to the bench. The German will be a strong option for Arteta to turn to should Arsenal need a goal later in the game.
Despite the brilliant recent form of Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli is almost certain to start on the left flank, whilst Bukayo Saka is practically undroppable on the right. The likes of Trossard, Emile Smith Rowe, and Fabio Vieira will be hoping for some involvement from the bench.
After getting Arsenal’s Premier League season rolling against Nottingham Forest last time out, Eddie Nketiah deserves to lead the line again. He has a brilliant record of scoring in games that he starts in, and Arteta has made it clear that he has great faith in the 24-year-old.
Predicted Arsenal starting XI: Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Martinelli, Saka, Nketiah.