Arsenal travel to Selhurst Park on Monday night in what promises to be a tough encounter against Crystal Palace, and Mikel Arteta should consider a bold team selection.
The Gunners were superb as they beat Manchester City in the Community Shield, and put in a strong first-half performance before fading slightly in the second period as they beat Nottingham Forest last week.
A tough away trip will throw a different test at Arsenal, and Arteta should consider a number of changes to the lineup that beat Forest.
Jurrien Timber’s long-term injury means that there will be one enforced change, and Oleksandr Zinchenko could slot straight in for him.
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There was surprise when Gabriel Magalhaes was left out against Forest, but it is now expected that he will come back into the side for extra defensive security.
One change that Arteta may be reluctant to make, but one which could be the right move for Palace, would be to drop summer signing Kai Havertz from the starting XI.
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Why should Havertz drop out?
The new signing has had a mixed start to his Arsenal career, initially impressing as a centre-forward in the Community Shield, before earning mixed reviews against Forest, having played in a number of positions.
Eddie Nketiah started up front against Forest, with Havertz in midfield and Thomas Partey at right-back. Against Palace, Partey can push up to a midfield role, with Declan Rice playing further forward, and this will give a choice of Nketiah or Havertz as a central striker.
Nketiah was excellent against Forest, opening the scoring with a tidy finish, and impressing with his all-round play, and he deserves to start in the centre again.
The Englishman’s speed and ability to run in behind could prove crucial against Palace, should Arsenal find themselves struggling against Palace’s intensity, as has been the case in the past.
Havertz should therefore drop out of the starting XI for now, but he could be a useful impact substitute given his ability in the air. Should Nketiah struggle to make an impact upfront, the German, who Arteta described as “superb,” could replace him in-game if needed.