Arsenal take on Crystal Palace for the second time this week, this time in the Premier League after the Carabao Cup win on Wednesday.
Here are the official line-ups.
Crystal Palace:
Subs:
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Odegaard, Havertz, Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
Subs: Neto, Tierney, Kiwior, Calafiori, Jorginho, Rice, Merino, Nwaneri, Trossard
Intersting
When your team gets stung by injuries during an interlull.
Important rotation…too many matches in the next 40days…one every 4days on average I think…Kai’s Physicality and creativity should be useful in midfield..besides he arrives in the box better than rice and merino…COYG
Let’s support the boys!!
COYG!
Havertz at 8 doesn’t work — it never has! Why is he so undroppable for Arteta ffs? It should be either him or Jesus upfront imo.
Because he’s one of the most tactically astute, athletic, hard working and versatile players in the team and rice is obviously struggling with an injury
As a centre forward, I fully agree.
As a midfielder, hmm.. the jury is still out
Well, he doesn’t just play CM in this line up. He will spend a lot of time as CF and will play CM when we are without the ball. In my opinion the original idea of him and Jesus in the team was for Jesus to drop deeper to get the ball and Kai then moves into attack, it’s just Jesus struggled with fitness and form so we never really saw it.
Havertz is first name on team sheet for any team in the league. Like xhaka you either see it or you don’t
If Rice can’t start better Havertz than Merino, simple
People don’t get that I am not necessarily criticizing Havertz. I am only saying we should NOT shoehorn him into the starting line up. I believe it should be either him or Jesus upfront and have our midfielders play in their position. How is Merino going to fully integrate into the team if he continues getting in and out every other game.
Did win precisely a gajillion games after New Year last year
with Havertz in that deeper role for at least half of those gajillion.
a lot of people didn’t register that because we were playing with Trossard as false 9, so the fact no other proper striker started registered in many people’s heads (read: those that didn’t watch the games and/or understand football) that Kai was playing striker that whole time 🙄
Take a chill pill mr manager
that aged well
Still unsure about Kai at LCM but happy that Calafiori and Rice are back on the bench!
COYG
Don’t get me wrong, I love Havertz and was sad when he went to Chelsea but not sure he fits the « Xhaka » role that Mikel sees in his left 8.
Nevertheless, he will bring a lot even if he isn’t the best fit.
Also, didn’t notice Sterling was not on the bench. Do we have anything on this?
You can only have 9 on bench, Trossard and Nwaneri are better than sterling
I do not disagree with this statement but thought Tierney was behind him in the overall picking order
On form this year, you or I are better than sterling.
I love you for this comment
The midfield press with Havertz and Odegaard may create a lot of opportunities. We miss that with Havertz up top
Interesting! Havertz today is much more confident and assertive than when he played midfield beginning of last season. Think it can work well and hopefully open up more space for Martinelli to drift infield.
I hope he provides more help to Martinelli and make the left side a threat as well.
Everyone of those players except Raya and Lewis-Skelly have scored this season. Let’s see some goals. COYG
Havertz is the weak link in the middle of the pack. COYG!!!!!
In what sense?
I am so hoping he plays a blinder. Another comment about him being a better player than last season. It’s a great point, he understands the system better! He’ll do a grand job i am sure. COYG!
That’s just… like your opinion man
Don’t you feel a bit silly now?
Expecting to have a lot of the ball I guess? I’m more concerned about the blue and violet kit… have we won wearing it yet?
Barely worn it, to be fair.
Glad to see KT back on the bench. Hope Havertz is up for the physical battle in the midfield. I don’t think Palace will allow us time on the ball as they did in the 2nd half of the EFL game. Hope we don’t miss Rice’s physicality and work rate. Whatever the case, we have to get all 3 points here to remain in the title race.
Side note – I am more and getting more pissed off with the universe every day that City had to wait until this year to suddenly become utterly shit at football. Whoever wins the league this year is probably going to do it with significantly fewer points than we amassed last year and the year before.
It’s still really funny though, and we can still win the league.
This is a much better way of looking at it. And the goal ogre being made humble and sad does cheer me up.
Good line up – Gabi available means having the confidence to bring in MLS. Would love to see Ethan on for Kai – game state allowing – and see how he might click in that role w/ the “starters”.
Wonder why we don’t play Jorginho in the left 8 position. I think he could do a job there…
A gutless, cowardly decision.
HAVERTZ IN MIDFIELD DOES NOT WORK!!! He should have been dropped up front in favour of the in-form Jesus.
Rice and Merino on the bench and Havertz in midfield? F**k off!!!
Such a dullard
In your face when we destroy palace today. Please screen shot this cos an gonna remind of your nonsense comment.
I remember how furious he was that we signed Havertz in the first place because we could have signed James Maddison instead. You’d think being that spectacularly wrong about something would introduce some self-doubt. But, no.
Gutless and cowardly?! Get a bloody grip of yourself – absolutely ridiculous, juvenile hyperbole.
I don’t mind Havertz in the left 8. Think he could shine, remember we only really saw him there in his post Chelsea low confidence, still connecting with the rest of the team moment
I just wanna enjoy this game 🙏🙏🙏
That’s it, that’s all I wanted……thank you COYG
How on earth are we only 3 points ahead of City. It’s doing my head in!
Havertz in the middle again…
It never worked, it literally cost us the league last season but then there was an excuse because Arteta didn’t know his best position. Arteta is becoming so stubborn and it seems that the flexibility of some players is actually a bad thing for him, too many options. Hopefully we won’t fighting for top 4 with Forest this season.
I hope you feel stupid now.
Also to anyone who cares, the negativity some of you lot show this team and manager is ridiculous.
I like the fact that Timber and Partey are in their best positions. He has to start Jesus. Whether the Kai experiment works is another thing.
Rice has gone off the boil compared to last year.
And remember kids, MLS is a League of his own…
I guess we now have the answer to the question: “What would Jesus do?”
Score against Palace, obviously.
What a weird half
Think we’re shaky in defence, poor with the ball and not taking the best decision in front of their goal but still two goals ahead.
Let’s hope we control more in the 2nd half