Arsenal predicted line-up vs Crystal Palace as Arteta receives huge injury boost
Mikel Arteta is set to have the influential Oleksandr Zinchenko available for Arsenal when they face Crystal Palace away from home on Monday.
Ukrainian left-back Zinchenko missed the 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest on the opening weekend with a calf injury which was an issue during the final weeks of last season. Zinchenko, 26, is now back in full training and could start at Selhurst Park, serving as a major boost after Arteta lost new £38million signing Jurrien Timber to a cruciate knee ligament injury on his debut.
The Gunners still won't have striker Gabriel Jesus available, though, meaning that Eddie Nketiah will once again lead the line. His supporting cast of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli is set to remain from last Saturday, just like midfield trio Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz.
Zinchenko is likely to come in for Timber at left-back, while Gabriel Magalhaes is expected to return to the starting XI after watching much of the win against Forest from the bench. That would see by-trade midfielder Thomas Partey drop out of the back four and Ben White shuffle to right-back.
"Alex has been doing really well," Arteta said of Zinchenko during his pre-match press conference. "He's been training with us and hopefully we’re going to have him very, very soon."
Mikel Arteta's dream Arsenal line up as last-gasp January transfers are secured
The Arsenal manager added when asked about Jesus, who's recovering from a knee injury which resurfaced during pre-season: "Gabi still not available and not fit, but the rest is all good."
Have your say! How should Arsenal line up against Crystal Palace? Let us know your XI in the comments section.
Arsenal are expected to line up like this on MondayAt the other end of the pitch, current No.1 goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale is set to keep his place, despite the arrival of David Raya on loan from Brentford. Ramsdale will now face serious competition for his spot and Arteta has defended his decision to bring in another top-level goalkeeper which has been questioned by pundits and fans alike.
"When we had different goalkeepers there were questions as well," the Spaniard explained. "To have two excellent goalkeepers is great - there's nothing wrong with it. We have two great left-wingers and two great strikers and two great holding midfielders. We have Jorginho, Thomas Partey and Declan and that is not a problem, and it should not be a problem.
"We want to be better every single day and to be better the environment has to change and be better. We tend to always be at a certain level because it's in our nature - when you change the environment and the environment is to be 100 per cent every day, believe me, the level is going to increase."
Arsenal predicted XI vs Crystal Palace: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Rice, Havertz, Odegaard; Saka, Martinelli, Nketiah.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
