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Ramsey & Mkhitaryan out, Monreal starts | Arsenal’s best XI to face Crystal Palace

By on October 27, 2018

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Arsenal can expend our winning run to 12 games in all competitions with victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon. This is the line-up I’d like Unai Emery to select…

Goalkeeper: Leno

Petr Cech is available again after recovering from a hamstring injury. He didn’t travel to Portugal in midweek which could suggest Emery is saving him for the league game but I hope Bernd Leno keeps his place as he’s been excellent during Cech’s absence.

Defence: Bellerin, Mustafi, Sokratis, Monreal

Sokratis returned to action against Sporting Lisbon following an ankle injury and I hope he keeps his place in defence. Rob Holding has done reasonably well in recent weeks but I think Shkodran Mustafi should partner Sokratis at the back tomorrow.

Hector Bellerin will obviously come in at right-back after being rested on Thursday but it will be interesting to see what happens at left-back. Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac have missed the last two games with hamstring injuries and they’ll need to be given late fitness tests today to see if they’re fit. Let’s pray at least one is able to play tomorrow.

Midfield: Torreira, Xhaka

Granit Xhaka was deployed at left-back against Sporting Lisbon but fingers crossed Monreal or Kolasinac are fit to return so Xhaka can move back in to his usual central midfield position. Mohamed Elneny will make way after another distinctly average performance in midweek.

Matteo Guendouzi was impressive once again in the Europa League and he’ll be unfortunate to drop out but I don’t think there is any debate that Lucas Torreira should be recalled against Palace.

Attack: Aubameyang, Ozil, Iwobi, Lacazette

Mesut Ozil will obviously be recalled to the starting eleven tomorrow and let’s hope he reproduces the kind of performance we saw from him against Leicester City last week as he was unplayable in the second half. That will mean Aaron Ramsey dropping to the bench after an disappointing display in Portugal.

Alex Iwobi deserves to come back in to the attack on the left wing as he’s been superb in recent weeks which should see Henrikh Mkhitaryan dropping to the bench this weekend.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored four goals in his last two substitute appearances in the Premier League and I have a feeling Emery will drop him to the bench against Palace. However, I think we need to find a way to get him in to the starting eleven as he’s just too good to leave out.

Alexandre Lacazette will be recalled to start up front so we could deploy Aubameyang on the right side of the attack but the front three can all rotate throughout the game.

That means Danny Welbeck will miss out in my eleven despite scoring a fine winner on Thursday night but he’ll be a very useful player to be able to call upon from the bench.

Here is the side I hope we’ll see:

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