Arsenal return to Premier League action tonight as they take on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park with Mikel Arteta facing some big decisions.
Tottenham Hotspur laid down the gauntlet on Sunday afternoon, hammering Newcastle United 5-1 to boost their top four hopes.
It’s now over to Arsenal to try and match their result, with the Gunners in the box seat for the final Champions League place.
Yet having seen Manchester City struggle away at Palace on a Monday night last month, Arsenal will be wary of a similar result.
Arteta has some big decisions to make tonight, so here is our predicted lineup as Arsenal head to South London…
Bernd Leno started Arsenal’s last Premier League game against Aston Villa and Arteta has admitted that Aaron Ramsdale is still a doubt through injury.
Ramsdale has though returned to training and we’re backing him to reclaim his spot in the Arsenal goal tonight.
The centre backs pick themselves barring any late issues, with Ben White and Gabriel Magalhaes surely set to start.
Takehiro Tomiyasu is coming back from injury but throwing him in from the start tonight may be a touch too early.
That means Cedric Soares should start at right back with Kieran Tierney continuing over on the left side of defence.
Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey have been in great form of late and will surely continue in the middle of Arsenal’s midfield.
Few Arsenal players have received as much praise as Martin Odegaard of late, and he will surely be Arsenal’s number 10 tonight.
The big decision surrounds Bukayo Saka, who has been struggling of late having tested positive for COVID-19.
Saka was in training over the weekend though, as pictured below, and we’re backing him to make it into the Arsenal starting lineup tonight.
With Saka on the right, Arsenal will then surely go with Alexandre Lacazette up front and Gabriel Martinelli down the left flank.
Arsenal would then be able to name the likes of Leno, Tomiyasu, Rob Holding, Nuno Tavares, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Mohamed Elneny, Nicolas Pepe, Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah on the bench tonight.
Arsenal starting XI: Ramsdale; Cedric, White, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard; Lacazette, Martinelli.
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