Riccardo Calafiori and Leandro Trossard rested as Mikel Arteta selects a changed squad for Atletico Madrid clash
Arsenal take on Crystal Palace in the Premier League at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. They are top of the table and have a chance to perhaps widen the gap to their rivals, Manchester City, who take on Aston Villa in Birmingham at the same time.
With Palace having played just three days earlier, there is an emphasis on the Gunners having more recovery time than their London rivals. Palace stole two points off Arsenal in the capital clash last season, and so this is a fourth game running where Arteta could gain a lead on last season’s corresponding tallies.
Who starts and who doesn’t remains a tricky dilemma with such a deep squad and with a test as strong as the Eagles to come. Mikel Arteta, therefore, needs to pick the right side as football.london runs through who he might select.
David Raya
A rare mistake crept into the goalkeeper’s game against Atletico, but he still managed to keep his eighth clean sheet of the season in eleven games. Will he, however, avoid a shot on target for a third straight league game?
Jurrien Timber
The right-back has been arguably the club’s best player this season so far and will continue in the role here, looking to shut down Yeremy Pino.
William Saliba
Continuing his almighty defensive record and taking on compatriot Jean-Philippe Mateta, who had a nightmare on Thursday, spurning some good opportunities.
Gabriel Magalhaes
The Brazilian was the hero on Tuesday, opening the scoring from a perfect free-kick, and should Palace decide to sit deep and defend, he might be needed again from another set piece.
Riccardo Calafiori
The Italian returns to the lineup not because of anything Myles Lewis-Skelly did wrong but because Calafiori has been so good. Lewis-Skelly will push him all the way.
Martin Zubimendi
What a player the Spaniard has been this season. Even the likes of Diego Simeone admitted to changing out his best players simply because of Zubimendi’s presence.
Declan Rice
Mikel Arteta disagreed with Rice’s assessment that his position has changed at Arsenal and described it more as an evolution, which better describes what he is doing.
Eberechi Eze
The former Palace player does indeed face his former club, and Mikel Arteta described the potential feeling of perhaps even a motivation for the midfielder.
Bukayo Saka
It does feel like the Arsenal talisman has hit his stride after returning from injury. He will be looking to be a catalyst in overturning last season’s disappointing result.
Viktor Gyokeres
Two goals against Atletico Madrid and Viktor Gyokeres might have found his stride, and if he can find the net again this weekend, he will start to truly silence the doubters.
Leandro Trossard
While Gabriel Martinelli did score yet again in midweek, it appears that the Belgian has instead become a favourite of Arteta’s in the league, which is what the depth is for.
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