Arsenal are preparing to take on Crystal Palace in their Carabao Cup quarter-final clash on Wednesday night.
The Gunners’ impressive form after the November international break has tailed off somewhat, with two consecutive Premier League draws.
Arsenal will be taking on a Palace side in decent form, unbeaten in their last five games and with two victories from their last three matches.
TBR Football looks at who Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta could pick in his starting XI for the match at the Emirates Stadium.
(L-R) Zane Monlouis, Raheem Sterling and Jorginho of Arsenal during a training session at Sobha Realty Training Centre on December 13, 2024 in Lond...
Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
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Arsenal team news v Crystal Palace
Arsenal still have four defenders out, with Oleksandr Zinchenko, Riccardo Calafiori, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White all unavailable.
Meanwhile, Gunners on-loan goalkeeper Neto is cup-tied for the Carabao Cup quarter-final.
Arsenal predicted starting XI v Crystal Palace
Arteta will likely want a mostly strong starting line-up as he looks to get closer to the final of the first major trophy of the season.
David Raya is likely to start in goal as Neto is ineligible, while Myles Lewis-Skelly could start his third game in a row at left-back.
Gabriel Magalhaes has not long returned from injury, so Arteta could opt to rest the Brazil international and start Jakub Kiwior instead.
Youngster Josh Nichols could potentially be in the squad as cover at right-back, but Arteta is likely to opt for experience in the XI and name Jurrien Timber to start.
Arsenal stars Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice were substituted an hour into Arsenal’s draw with Everton, suggesting they could both start against Palace.
Meanwhile, Thomas Partey came off the bench, so there’s a good chance he could also start against the Eagles alongside Odegaard and Rice.
As for the front three, Arteta has the perfect opportunity to give Raheem Sterling a start, with £180,000-a-week ace Gabriel Martinelli rested ahead of Sunday’s Palace league game.
Arsenal predicted starting XI v Crystal Palace in Carabao Cup
Arsenal predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Sterling
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