With two games of the Premier League season remaining, let’s take a look at our Arsenal predicted lineup to face Crystal Palace.

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal reacts during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on February 21, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by John Walton - Pool/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal reacts during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on February 21, 2021. (Photo by John Walton – Pool/Getty Images)

At the time of writing, following the win over Chelsea, Arsenal still have an outside chance at making it into European competition, so Mikel Arteta will presumably continue to pick his best available side until that changes.

Whilst some fans have been calling for youth players to get chances, it’s just not reasonable to expect that whilst European qualification is still possible.

If anything, it’s more in the interests of those youth players for Arsenal to qualify than anyone else. They’re the ones most likely to get chances in the group stages of the Europa Conference League.

With that in mind, here’s our Arsenal predicted lineup to face Crystal Palace.

Goalkeeper

Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno Arsenal v Slavia Prague, UEFA Europa League, Quarter Final, First Leg, Football, Emirates Stadium, London, UK - 08 Apr 2021. Copyright: Javier Garcia / BPI / Shutterstock
Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno Arsenal v Slavia Prague, UEFA Europa League, Quarter Final, First Leg, Football, Emirates Stadium, London, UK – 08 Apr 2021. Copyright: Javier Garcia / BPI / Shutterstock

Bernd Leno put in a strong performance against Chelsea to keep a clean sheet, and he’ll probably start away to Palace as well.

As mentioned, Arteta is likely to keep picking his first-choice players until European qualification is mathematically impossible, and Leno remains his first-choice goalkeeper, despite the rumours about his future.

Defence

Calum Chambers ahead of a game (Photo via Arsenal Academy on Twitter)
Calum Chambers ahead of a game (Photo via Arsenal Academy on Twitter)

With Hector Bellerin picking up an injury against Chelsea and Arsenal likely to revert to a back four, Calum Chambers will probably start at right-back.

Assuming David Luiz is unavailable, Pablo Mari and Rob Holding will likely start in central defence, though we’ll see how Luiz progresses in the build-up to the game. Kieran Tierney will start at left-back.

Midfield

Chelsea v Arsenal - Arsenal's Emile Smith Rowe celebrates scoring the first goal of the game during the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge, London. Picture date: Wednesday, May 12, 2021. Copyright: Shaun Botterill
Chelsea v Arsenal – Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe celebrates scoring the first goal of the game during the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge, London. Picture date: Wednesday, May 12, 2021. Copyright: Shaun Botterill

This is another area of the pitch that could be impacted by the return of one of Arsenal’s injury sufferers, with Granit Xhaka likely to start if he can get fit. But for now, our prediction is that he’ll be a bit short.

As a result, Dani Ceballos and Thomas Partey can start the match. Mohamed Elneny put in a decent enough performance against Chelsea, but the Palace game is a very different prospect that Ceballos is probably more suited to.

Ahead of the two of them, Emile Smith Rowe should start in the number 10 position. He’s in good form whilst Martin Odegaard’s displays have dipped in the last week or two.

Forwards

Arsenal's Bukayo Saka with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Issue date: Monday February 15, 2021. Copyright: Catherine Ivill
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Issue date: Monday, February 15, 2021. Copyright: Catherine Ivill

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang should start up front, as Alexandre Lacazette continues to work his way back to full fitness. Bukayo Saka and Nicolas Pepe are the most likely to start on the wings, with Willian and Gabriel Martinelli as alternatives.

You’d expect some element of managing the team to compete in both Wednesday’s game against Palace and Sunday’s game against Brighton. But it’s best for Arteta to go strong in the first game and make changes later if Arsenal have the lead.

Predicted Arsenal lineup to face Crystal Palace

Arsenal predicted lineup to face Crystal Palace created using Chosen11.com
Arsenal predicted lineup to face Crystal Palace created using Chosen11.com