Arsenal predicted lineup vs Crystal Palace - Premier League
- Arsenal looking to end poor run of form with win against Crystal Palace
- Gunners welcome Gabriel Jesus back to the side amid Ivan Toney rumours
- Oleksandr Zinchenko is touch and go and could be replaced by Jakub Kiwior
By Euan Burns
Arsenal host Crystal Palace on Saturday knowing they desperately need to turn their form around if they are to go one better than they did last season and win the Premier League title.
Recent losses to West Ham and Fulham form part of a five-game winless streak which has seen them drop to fourth in the table and exit the FA Cup at the hands of Liverpool.
However, a home game against a stuttering Palace side may be just what Mikel Arteta and his team need to break out of their poor run. This is their game in hand over Aston Villa, who they can move above into third with a win at the Emirates.
Here's the starting lineup manager Arteta may choose when Arsenal host Palace.
Arsenal predicted lineup vs Crystal Palace (4-3-3)
GK: David Raya - Much of the noise around Raya and Aaron Ramsdale seems to have subsided for now, but one mistake from the Spaniard will set it all off again. He needs consistency for the rest of the season.
RB: Ben White - He was under serious pressure from Takeiro Tomiyasu for this spot so the Asian Cup came at a pretty good time for White.
CB: William Saliba - The recent wobble will have angered Saliba given how steady he has been all season, but he just needs to keep doing what he's been doing.
CB: Gabriel Magalhaes - It was not an easy game against Liverpool for Gabriel but this one should be more routine for the Brazilian.
LB: Oleksandr Zinchenko - The Ukrainian has been suffering with a calf issue and there is a chance he does not start here. If he doesn't, Jakub Kiwior is likely to play instead.
CM: Martin Odegaard - These are the games where a player like Odegaard has to strut his stuff. Arsenal need their Norwegian captain at his creative best and other players have to finish the chances he creates.
CM: Declan Rice - Like everyone for Arsenal in recent weeks, Rice's level has dropped and he needs to pick it back up if he is to be a Premier League title winner in his first campaign in north London.
CM: Kai Havertz - Much like Odegaard, this sort of match is an opportunity for Havertz to pick up a goal or assist and continue showing why he is worthy of this place in the team.
RW: Bukayo Saka - The third most fouled player in the Premier League so far this season, Saka needs to show some leadership skills and help his team to a routine victory.
ST: Gabriel Jesus - Having missed the FA Cup tie against Liverpool with a small injury, Jesus is expected to return from the start with a point to prove. A lot of strikers are being linked with Arsenal...
LW: Gabriel Martinelli - Like Jesus, there is a feeling that there is more to come from Martinelli from a goalscoring perspective.
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