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[Image] Pepe misses out as 21-year-old starts: My Arsenal line-up vs Palace

By mac14 on October 18, 2021

Arsenal are back in Premier League action after the international break as we take on Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium tonight. This is the line-up I’d like to see Mikel Arteta select for the match…

Aaron Ramsdale has been in excellent form since ousting Bernd Leno in goal and there is no reason why he shouldn’t keep his place between the sticks this evening.

Arteta has found a back four he can rely on and I hope we see them string a long run of games together over the coming weeks. Takehiro Tomiyasu has been terrific since arriving in the summer and although the Brighton game wasn’t his best in an Arsenal shirt, he should still keep his place tonight.

Obviously Kieran Tierney will continue in the left-back role while Ben White should once again start alongside Gabriel in the Arsenal back four. They are forming an encouraging partnership so let’s hope they marshal the team to another clean sheet against Palace.

In midfield, Arsenal will be without Granit Xhaka as he’s facing a long spell out with a knee injury. It will be interesting to see how Arteta lines-up in the middle of the park tonight as I’ve read reports suggesting he may switch to a 4-3-3 formation with Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe playing in front of Thomas Partey.

Lokonga starts

That would allow Nicolas Pepe to be recalled and it would certainly be a more attack-minded line-up. We saw Arsenal go with this team away to Burnley and I do think we’ll see Arteta try it out while Xhaka is on the side-lines.

However, personally, I think we look more solid with Albert Sambi Lokonga alongside Partey. The 21-year-old gives us a bit more balance and another deeper option on the ball so I’d like to see Sambi keep his place tonight.

Smith Rowe can remain out wide with Odegaard in the central attacking role. Bukayo Saka is getting back to his best form on the right flank while Peirre-Emerick Aubameyang should lead the line up front.

Gabriel Martinelli could be available after making a swift recovery from a knock and I do hope we see him given more opportunities over the coming weeks but for now he will remain on the bench along with Alexandre Lacazette.

Here is the side I hope we see: