Arsenal are looking for the win that will take us into third place in the Premier League, taking on Crystal Palace at the Emirates today.
Here are the official line-ups.
Arsenal: Leno, Jenkinson, Mustafi, Koscielny, Mavropanos, Kolasinac, Elneny, Guendouzi, Ozil, Lacazette, Aubameyang
Subs: Cech, Monreal, Maitland-Niles, Torreira, Mkhitaryan, Iwobi, Nketiah:
Crystal Palace: Guaita, Ward, Wan-Bissaka, Dann, Kelly, Meyer, Milivojevic, McArthur, Kouyate, Zaha, Benteke
Subs: Hennessy, Van Aanholt, Townsend, Ayew, Batshuayi, Saka, Riedewald
That does not look like a strong 11. Here’s hoping it’s enough at home.
I agree, it’s gonna be a struggle. I think 1 goal in it. I’m going for a nervy 2 -1 or 1 – 0 with Leno having a good game.
Emery’s just got bored of clean-sheets, relax, and just enjoy the 4-3 extravaganza haha
This time of the year rotation is really important… I just hope we haven’t underestimated our opponents!
I’m not sure it’s underestimating?
Xhaka left out as a precaution
Torreira carrying a knock
Rambo twinged with hamstring
= Guendouzi+Elneny
Holding injured
Sokratis suspended
No money in January
= risk Koscielny and put Mavropanos in.
Bellerin injured
Emery doesn’t fancy Lichtstiner, likely due to his lack of athleticism
= Jenkinson
Our squad is stretched and lacking in quality, this is a lineup that seems to be put together out of circumstances, rather than underestimating our opponent.
Can’t say I’m confident for today
My goodness, i hope you are right — it’s 1-3 for CP right now!
Zaha against Jenks, yikes! Hopefully we have enough going forward with Kola Ozil and our two beautiful strikers.
Whyyyyy elneny and guendouzi?
Because we have to rotate. This is when Saurez was supposed to help but can’t, some of our players are out on their feet and the squad has to step up. Hopefully this will be enough, all our players will be giving their everything and we just need to support them over the line.
Well said sir! Someone with a logical brain
Because Xhaka and Ramsey are injured, and Torreira’s nursing a knock? I don’t know if there are many more midfielders left to use in the squad….
But I agree that it doesn’t look like a strong team. And I worry about Kos.
Watching the end of this Everton-Utd game and result aside, some of these players look shattered. Digne, Richarlison going off with injuries… Poor Ramsey.
This is why squad players are so important – starters need to rest and recover or they break down.
Today is about squad players stepping up
If you saw man u today or even the city spurs game you will see why, players get tired.
I actually really like this lineup. Love to see Kos in there, I wasn’t buying all the “he must be rested” hype. It came from the same people who said “he’ll probably never play well again” so let’s just see how he does and let Emery and the staff handle his gametime! COYG!
Elneny and guendouzi is a worry. Would have rested one of the strikers too but hey I think we’ll win! Come on the gun
Also can I just say LOL Man Utd
Big kudos to Old Theo for completing the dismantling of that heap of dung.
All the other top 4 contenders lost this week
I’d like too but I’m nervous. I’ll be delighted to mock once we get a result under our belts.
Team looks a little weak but should be enough. nicely set for a right affair with a winning goal from Jenko
That midfield is weak, we can’t control this game with such players, let’s hope we can outscore them.
Manager proving his self with this team selection….players need to rise to the occasion. A win would be a telling stoey…..GO JENCO!!!
Jenks scored a lovely goal for the u23s the other day, he’s in the mood!
My first game at the Emirates…and this is the lineup…..
You’ll get to see the Corporal, that’s something, at least…
Keep the faith m’lord……………
I’m sure you’ll do well? cheer loud & enjoy!
Don’t worry mate, Auba and Laca gonna put on a show for you
Jenks versus Zaha does not inspire me with confidence, but here’s to hoping the Corporal can prove me wrong.
Another area of concern is the midfield, Palace have Milivojevic in there and he can be a bit of a nuisance- so lets hope that the coaching staff have paid attention to the problems he can present.
That’s a shit-load of rotation – I hope its not too much!
I don’t have a problem with that midfield pairing, we just need to ensure that there is a link between midfield and attack and not just a huge gap.
Midfield is a problem.
We won’t have enough control of the game.
Rotation, rotation, rotation.
That’s what the manager said he’d do and he really means it.
I suppose with Wolves in a couple of days’ time and a game every three or four days until the end of the season, it has to make uneasy sense.
Our biggest concern is knackerment or injury during the run-in and further progress in the Europa Cup.
Looks like there’ll be plenty of opportunity for worry in the days ahead. And I’m really not that good at worry.
Mikki and iwobi on as a double sub at 66 mins?
Koscielny desperately needs a rest
With sok unavailable he really had no choice but to play him.
Possibly a half each with Nacho.
There is only one thing I regret this season is Auba missing penalty against Spurs. How easy it would be now to have those extra points. Absolutely no pressure on any of the remaining games. But it is what it is I guess. Hope 3 PTS today.
Yes that penalty miss still riles me too but a least a win today puts us ahead of Spurs and 5 points clear of Manu. Please don’t waste this opportunity
Bloody annoyed it’s not on tv. They’ve gone with Liverpool cardiff instead which a few weeks ago probably seemed the most interesting but now both teams are probably where they’re going to finish its frustrating.
Fairly happy with the team though Kos seems a risk. At least jenks is pretty mobile up and down the wing
19 games without a goal, there was nothing surer than a Benteke goal today! Fuckin typical.
We’re far too generous with players like that
This reminds of when Jagielka scored and became the oldest player to score in the PL this season. Srsly typical. And at this point idc what Santori says, Mustafi is such a liability. All I see him doing is raising his hands in protest and leaving his man unmarked
I understand we’re short-staffed and have to rotate, but Emery’s decision to play 5 defenders with a Guendouzi-Elneny midfield pairing is producing exactly what you’d expect at the half — a deficit. Auba and Laca have to have the ball in space to do something with it, and Ozil is having to cover way too much ground (easily marked when we are scrambling). I was disappointed not to see a 4-2-3-1 from kickoff in this one, and fear that Emery is now going to have to make 1 or 2 changes at halftime to get us back into the contest.… Read more »
His final sub is Torreira on for Elneny, when we are chasing the game. Wow. Just wow.
Are we having a EL hangover? So poor today.
Mustafi can fuck right off. He has probably just cost the cost best part of 50 million or more . Joke of a footballer
It’s easy to hate on Mustafi, but Leno should have come out to gather that one … Arsenal getting bossed by Crystal Palace at the Emirates, when we had the chance to go into third and begin sealing up a top four spot. Why do we do this to ourselves, game after game, season after season … So frustrating.
Obviously Musti was the only one in the stadium who thought Leno should’ve came to get the ball. Protecting him is noble, but Mustafi is just a total liability.
Mustafi was in front of Zaha, just keep running and clear the ball. Mustafi is so terrible
Jon Moss is the worst current official in the PL.
Great goal from Ozil to equalise and then we bottle it. Bloody typical
Not giving Palace respect. We’ll pay for it.
Iwobi should score. Mustafi is crap player. Coach underestimated CP.
Elneni is nothing but last resort.