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Arsenal Vs Crystal Palace: Predicted starting XI – Mikel Arteta’s pecking order forms

By Andrew Dowdeswell

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 06: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal reacts during the FA Cup Third Round match between Arsenal FC and Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium on January 06, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 06: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal reacts during the FA Cup Third Round match between Arsenal FC and Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium on January 06, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 06: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal stretches to control the ball under pressure from Gaetano Berardi of Leeds United during the FA Cup Third Round match between Arsenal FC and Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium on January 06, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 06: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal stretches to control the ball under pressure from Gaetano Berardi of Leeds United during the FA Cup Third Round match between Arsenal FC and Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium on January 06, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /

Front Three

Another position where Mikel Arteta has made his thinking quite clear, there are two very plain starters in the front three positions: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang off the left flank and Alexandre Lacazette through the middle — Aubameyang did miss the Leeds victory through illness, but he is expected to be ready for a return.

Lacazette looked very sharp in the win over Leeds, especially in the second half, and is beginning to rediscover his best form. He needs a goal, his confidence in and around the penalty area on the wane without one, but his overall play is superb.

The final position is a straight shootout between Nicolas Pepe and Reiss Nelson. Both started against Leeds, though Nelson was shunted out to the left. Pepe replaced Nelson against Manchester United after Nelson started the first two games. I will plump for Pepe starting, simply because I feel Arteta will want to get the best out of the £72 million signing, but in reality, that is a guess.

Next. Arsenal Vs Leeds United: 5 things we learned. dark

All in all, however, the Arsenal team is becoming increasingly settled. And that is the first time in a long time that we could say that. Arteta is providing definition to the team and squad as his pecking order unfolds.