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

Arsenal are in Premier League action this Wednesday for the penultimate time this season as they take on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. Here is the predicted lineup.

Fans! Back in the stadium! The FA Cup final was magnificent viewing and a timely reminder of just how important match-going fans are to football. There were some in attendance for the Carabao Cup final, but with actual supporters in Leicester instead of Sp*rs, Chelsea and Man City, the spectacle had that special edge.

It’s an edge that won’t play in Arsenal’s favour in south London, as not only will Palace be welcomed by 6,500 of their raucous support, but they will be commemorating the final home fixture for manager Roy Hodgson as he bids farewell to full-time management at the end of this season.

Five Premier League matches without victory over the Eagles coupled with the occasion will make Wednesday a tough encounter, which may be reflected in Mikel Arteta’s starting lineup.

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Arsenal predicted lineup vs Crystal Palace: Granit Xhaka & Thomas Partey could return as the double pivot in midfield for Wednesday’s Premier League clash

The season is figuratively over but a strong finish is still necessary, and the manager has options in the heart of defence to choose from with all three of Rob Holding, Gabriel and Pablo Mari starting in the 1-0 win over Chelsea.

Hector Bellerin suffered an injury late in that game that forced him off, with Arteta reassuringly revealing ‘everybody is fit’ except for David Luiz. Granit Xhaka is the other potentiality, having missed the last two fixtures with a groin strain.

Of course, fans are pining for the inclusions of some academy stars in Wednesday’s squad: no Willian or Dani Ceballos anywhere to be seen.

Jonathan Dinzeyi, Omar Rekik, George Lewis, Arthur Okonkwo, Folarin Balogun and Miguel Azeez were the six youth players who trained with the first team in the build-up to Selhurst Park, although it’s only the latter two who stand any real chance.

What Arteta opts for is another matter entirely, and he will be hell-bent on sticking to his tried and tested (failed) senior stars to get him three points that keep alive this hopeless dream of securing European football.

Who doesn’t want the UEFA Europa RC Cola C-Grade Conference Division A-League sponsored by Poundland?

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Mat Ryan (GK) – Arteta staunchly insisted that Bernd Leno ‘belongs’ at Arsenal, which presumably means the offers they’ve had are insulting and no buyer can be found. Whatever the outcome with Leno’s future, Ryan’s is arguably less certain and another chance to see him in action may help solve that issue come the summer.

Calum Chambers (RB) – Bellerin has been deemed fit for midweek despite pulling up last time yet with some height to deal with against the Eagles Chambers may get the nod at right-back, presenting Bellerin with the chance for a final Emirates swansong.

Rob Holding (CB) – David Luiz still isn’t fit and likely won’t be for Brighton either, leaving the only right centre-back at the club with the chance to play right centre-back again.

Pablo Mari (CB) – That whole ‘partnership’ thing again. Due to that, Arteta will likely go with Mari even if the £27m signing of Gabriel should be getting these minutes in dead rubber matches to help the club start seeing some real return on their investment. Trust the talent.

Kieran Tierney (LB) – Sead Kolasinac isn’t at the club and likely won’t be ever again, leaving the only left-back at the club with the chance to play left-back again.

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.

Forwards

Bukayo Saka (RW) – Bukayo Saka has to be on that England plane. Based off of recent squad announcements and reports, he doesn’t seem like missing out but no certainties can be taken. In truth, he shouldn’t be playing at all. There is no need.

However, with the European Championships on the horizon, and with the best chance of any in this squad by far of playing for England, he’ll get minutes.

Saka is also Arteta’s best player and the chances of winning are higher with him in the team. That also plays a part, I suppose.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ST) – It would make sense for Alexandre Lacazette to play in this fixture whether it tactically suits or not. Let the Frenchman have a run around and keep him in the shop window for this summer. Would not playing him make any real difference? Probably not, but playing gives him the chance of scoring, which certainly wouldn’t hurt.

Doesn’t seem like he’s going, though, which means that Aubameyang, who must start as the first choice No. 9 next season and none of this worn out left-winger nonsense, will start up front.

Nicolas Pepe (LW) – Not on the pitch at all against Chelsea after being given the chance to rest his legs, the likely outcome is Pepe getting the nod in south London. The same can be said of Gabriel Martinelli, yet of the two it’s clear who Arteta is favouring at the moment.