Arsenal predicted lineup vs Crystal Palace: Xhaka & Partey return?

Midfielders

Thomas Partey (CM) – Possibly the best half of football Partey has had for the club since moving in the summer came after the break at Stamford Bridge. With energy to his side in Mohamed Elneny he swapped out his usual sloppy defaults with pin-point accuracy and smart decision-making on the ball.

What would be nice now is for the above to never be mentioned again. If the Ghanaian is doing that most matches, which is what the money was intended to bring, then such performances would be commonplace and almost accepted. Imagine that, an Arsenal player being consistent! More of the same, please.

Granit Xhaka (CM) – Imagine the scene: Xhaka enters the Selhurst Park turf on crutches as Arteta massages vaporub into his injured area and whispers to him ‘just 90 more minutes, Granit, please’.

The fact Arteta said ‘let’s see how Granit is’ instead of ‘he’s injured and unavailable’ 100% confirms that he will play. It’s been eight games since these two partnered each other in midfield.

Martin Odegaard (AM) – Is Emile Smith Rowe angling for a late Euro 2020 call-up with England? Gareth Southgate won’t bring Smith Rowe on the plane, sadly, but his form of late, or indeed since Boxing Day, has already warranted a Under-21 cap and a senior one won’t be years off. Crazier things have happened…

Martin Odegaard, however, only has two matches left before he jets off back to sunnier climates and in the bid to convince him of staying longer, Arteta will look to use him.