Arsenal vs Crystal Palace: 5 key players in comfy home fixture

4. Sead Kolasinac

This is a necessity by projection. Yes, anything that he contributes to this match will obviously be a welcome and happy addition, and we will be much better off because of it, but at the end of the day, what we need from Kolasinac is a return to form. He’s not been bad lately, but he hasn’t been his normal stand-out self.

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All year, Kolasinac has been the one guy that we could rely on and, again, it’s not like he’s been a liability, but I miss the stalwart Kolasinac that controls the entire left flank simply because he’s everywhere, all the time. Even if he’s a bit lax in his defensive duties, he attacks so fervently that it almost doubles as above-average defending.

Still, as much as I’m downplaying this match, we are going to need creative forces, and the formula recently has been to nestle Mesut Ozil in between two rampaging wingbacks, which will probably be the objective in this one. That being the case, responsibility falls on Kolasinac to step out of the minor slump he’s been in and provide quality service.

Onwards to No. 3.