Arsenal predicted lineup vs Crystal Palace: 4-3-3 with Pepe in?

Arsenal host Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Monday night as Mikel Arteta’s side are left to watch on at the rest of the division battling it out over the weekend. Here is the predicted lineup.

The agonising wait is almost over. Or maybe it could have been extended further? The less confident supporter may well have cherished this period in the season having witnessed whatever it was that played for 90 minutes against Brighton.

Whether dreading the return of Arsenal or eagerly anticipating it, there is no division on how exciting it is to see one Patrick Vieira back in north London. While he never graced the Emirates turf, it does feel as though he’s coming home. Our captain.

What he brings with him is a vastly more appealing Palace side on the eye. Gone are the long balls into the channels for Wilfried Zaha to fashion a chance all on his own. They’ve been replaced with a more possession-based style that builds from the back and presses from the front.

Arsenal predicted lineup vs Crystal Palace: 4-3-3 formation with Nicolas Pepe in attack to give Mikel Arteta’s side greater threat against Patrick Vieira’s men?

The 4-3-3 shape they adopt may even tempt Mikel Arteta’s hand. Evident this season is that the single pivot of Thomas Partey will be more commonplace, especially with Granit Xhaka absent, and in plumping for that formation he could match up against the Eagles and introduce another forward player on the pitch.

Goals are what is lacking from this team. So put more goalscorers on the pitch, right? Maybe he will, maybe he won’t.

Somehow scraping through an international break with 16 players all returning in better condition than they left, the option is there for the manager to change things around in his team. The only ones who look like missing out are Xhaka and potentially Gabriel Martinelli, although the latter did train in the days building up.

One of the great Arsenal captains returns to north London to take on one of his predecessors. How will this one turn out?

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Aaron Ramsdale (GK) – Part of a back five that is the easiest to pick for quite some time, the Englishman will have profited from being in and around the England setup during the break. In his short time at Arsenal he’s already usurped Nick Pope and Dean Henderson in Southgate’s thinking.

Takehiro Tomiyasu (RB) – No player ventured further away from London Colney than Tomiyasu who was on duty with Japan. Some successful voyages for the defender won’t impact his inclusion in this one, however.

Gabriel (CB) – It’s surely only a matter of time before senior call ups to the Brazil squad are coming for Gabriel. Outstanding since coming back from injury, his place in the team is under zero threat.

Ben White (CB) – White will have felt hard done by not being away with his two England teammates as Fikayo Tomori and…Conor Coady…were chosen in his place. He’ll be back in Three Lions reckoning soon enough. For the time being, it’s Arsenal.

Kieran Tierney (LB) – Will be chosen without any shadow of a doubt, but Tierney has to start stepping up this season after what’s been an uncharacteristic drop off in form for the Scot.

He’ll get his mojo back soon enough.

Continued…