Arsenal predicted lineup vs Brighton: Granit Xhaka farewell?

Arsenal's French-born Ivorian midfielder Nicolas Pepe (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring their third goal during the English Premier League football match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park in south London on May 19, 2021. - Arsenal won the game 3-1. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

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LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 19: Thomas Partey of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images) /

Midfielders

Thomas Partey (CM) – Taken off in the recent 3-1 win, Partey started the game brilliantly with some excellent threaded passes in between the Eagles’ centre-backs and full-backs, dictating the tempo of the game in what was Arsenal’s brightest spell all evening.

He visibly tired after the break, mentally and physically, being hooked off midway through the second half. This will be the Ghanaian’s first game in front of his new supporters, and they will surely spur him on to an improved display.

Granit Xhaka (CM) – A final goodbye for the Swiss? When Arteta convinced the former captain to stay at Arsenal during the height of the tension, that may well have been with the freedom to leave in the summer if the right off comes in. Word has it he’s looking for said offer.

As for the game, it will be welcome to see both Xhaka and Partey back in the engine room which, if available, is surely what Arteta plumps for.

Martin Odegaard (AM) – Surely it’s Emile Smith Rowe with the chance to play in front of the supporters who absolutely adore him, right? That will be in Arteta’s mind, but so too will the fact Smith Rowe will have his whole career (hopefully) to delight the Emirates crowd. Odegaard won’t.

Working on the basis that the manager wants the Norwegian to stay, as well as his match-winning assist against Palace, giving him the chance to play in front of the fans could be his trick to helping secure that.

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