
Arsenal head into the game against Crystal Palace five points behind fourth-placed Brighton. Mikel Arteta will thus be hoping for a win that will place his team just two points from the Champions League spots.
Any Arsenal fan would have taken that outcome after eight game-weeks, before the start of the campaign. It will certainly be seen as a success if they can get all three points, but a match against Crystal Palace has not been straightforward for Arsenal in the past few years.
Arsenal have won just one of their last six Premier League meetings with Crystal Palace (D4 L1). The only win came at the empty Selhurst Park at the latter stages of last season. Therefore, there is no reason for taking Patrick Vieira’s men casually.
🎯 𝗡𝗣
⏪ Last time out against Crystal Palace #ARSCRY pic.twitter.com/ybYoUeojC7
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 16, 2021
Here’s the predicted line-up for the Monday night match.
Goalkeeper
This debate seems to have been settled among the majority of the fan base of who is the best goalkeeper at Emirates. Aaron Ramsdale will be expected to start and deservedly so.
Defence
Barring any late injury update, there is no reason to change the back four of Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben White, Gabriel and Keiran Tierney. Since being named together in the starting 11 against Norwich City post the first international break, the team has just conceded a single goal.
Midfield
With Granit Xhaka out for three months, Albert Sambi Lokonga will be expected to step up. Fans will have no problems with it, especially after the bright start the young Belgian had to his Arsenal career. A midfield pivot of Lokonga and Partey is dynamic enough to cause problems for the opposition.
Mikel Arteta would have certainly loved to replace Xhaka with a young Vieira
"He is an Arsenal legend and I hope he gets the reception he deserves for what he did for the club, not only as a player but also what he transmitted as a person."
Mikel Arteta's been discussing Patrick Vieira ahead of our match against @CPFC 👇
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 14, 2021
Attack
I expect the same three behind the striker that have been so impressive lately. That means Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, and Emile Smith Rowe will be given the license to cause chaos. With Alexander Lacazette rarely getting a look in at the Premier League stage, it is only natural that everybody expects Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to lead the line.
Read More:
- Three Players who Need to Step-up Big Time to Earn a Place in the Arsenal First Team
- Edu’s Performance in the Summer Transfer Window was the Best in Many Years
- Blistering New Look Side | Here’s how the New Signings can Make an Impact in Arteta’s New Look Arsenal
Predicted Lineup
Goalkeeper: Ramsdale
Defence: Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney
Midfield: Partey, Lokonga
Attack: Saka, Odegaard, Smith Rowe
Striker: Aubameyang
Follow AD for more Matchday updates on Arsenal.