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Confirmed Arsenal team to take on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park – Tomi is the only change

Arsenal are in south-east London to take on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on this fine Monday evening, and the confirmed teams are finally out for all to see.

The Gunners will be hoping to maintain their 100% start to the season when they take on their London rivals tonight, but we may need to play better than we did to get over the line last weekend.

We did suffer the loss of Jurrien Timber to injury in the first-half of our opening weekend victory, while we remain without both Mo Elneny and Gabriel Jesus. This aided us in naming our Predicted Arsenal XI from our earlier preview:

Ramsdale
Partey White Saliba Tomiyasu
Odegaard Rice Havertz
Saka Nketiah Martinelli

As you can see, we were pretty close, in fact Perfect!

Patrick

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152 Comments

  1. No surprises, as expected.

    I do feel for Trossard though but I understand MA needs to prove Havertz was money well spent.

  4. If we win and play well arteta will be hailed a genius but if it goes pear shaped there will be some after his head. But I will support his decision

    1. Apparently Real Madrid made contact with is representatives to discuss a move to Madrid so that also might have switched is mind a little bit and arsenal had already asked him to give them an answer about is commitment to stay at arsenal.

  9. Arteta scratching a head that isn’t itchy….. For fs* why create dillemas for himself? Partey I a midfielder for crying out loud. Even of it works, I would still be against it.
    Total BS*

    1. It’s like he’s trying really hard to prove a point with this lineup. I just hope it doesn’t cost us points.
      Then you have him playing his favourites 😔. I hope when the UCL matches start, he needs to have sorted out his proper starting eleven or we will get hammered.

  11. Between Partey and Rodri they were the best defensive midfielders in the league last year and arguably the whole of Europe.

    Even if he does well at RB, it doesn’t change the fact that he’s more influential in the midfield.

    I am a fan of Havertz but I don’t think he should be forced into the team at the cost of these kinds of changes. I think this was the concern with the Havertz signing not the quality of the player but more about the strange things we might do to fit him in.

      1. Yes we all know that. Was he one of the best in Europe last season as a DM or as an invertered right back?

        This place is starting to sound like Top Gun, inverted everything! Soon we’ll be playing 2 keepers with one being inverted in a pivot.

  12. So our Manager buys two left sided centre backs for balance, and then plays neither? I hope I am wrong, but I cannot see us keeping a clean sheet and would not be surprised if the match ended in a draw.

    1. It’s baffling to me too Grandad. I hope he knows what he’s doing. Last game left a lot to be desired. And that was against a poorer opposition than palace. Let’s hope he proves us wrong

  13. This playing nearly every player out of their natural positions is a recipe for injuries. Tomi or Partey is next!

    1. God bless you. I thought I’m the only one who feels this way. MA is overthinking these days and can’t manage our current depth. Return all the guys to their normal position! Tierney at his place, white and saliba at their places. Saliba couldn’t pass well from central left position!!! Is Artata kidding?

  14. Even if we win with this formation, a better team will punish us in upcoming games.

    There is nothing tactical about putting a round peg in a round hole. Arteta is doing all this to accommodate the rejected rolroyce he bought from Stamford Bridge. That is the aim of his wierd formation and nothing more.

  15. I’m feeling very uneasy with this lineup tbh.
    But let’s just hope they practiced it all week, and, so we can still expect a good performance and a good result

  16. It’s a 4-3-3 on paper but it’s a 3-2-4-1 formation on the field,

    Partey supports Rice in midfield, makes the midfield congested, I presume, once Zinchenko or Timber is totally fit, Partey returns to midfield.
    I’m sure Arteta will not use Partey at RB against counter attacking teams like Man united,

  17. Arteta is a stubborn man. When he buys an expensive player, he will play them all the time just to justify why he bought them even when they keep disappointing. This is a willian 2.0 situation all over again with havertz

  20. If Kieren Tierney is part of MA’s plan, as he himself stated last week, where on earth is he?
    Tomiyasu is NOT a natural LB, just as Partey is NOT a natural RB… whether inverted outverted extraverted or even converted!!!

    I have to believe that MA knows what he’s doing and the same goes for the players, as this line up COULD be the plan B that we were all asking for last season.
    We will know the answer shortly…….

    1. Plus we went from playing beautiful football last season to playing 2 really shitty football games this season with this weird lineup

  21. Partey @ RB and White @ CB.
    What has happened to picking Gabriel as CB.
    Poor lineup. Havertz instead of Trossard.
    Something weird is going on behind the scenes.

  22. My predicted final score-line is: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 3.
    Let’s trust Arteta as he makes changes in his team this summer in the Epl to better things for Arsenal than the team was last summer campaign.

  23. I will admit, I’m also baffled but then I don’t get paid millions a year to produce results on the pitch, Arteta does. If he gets the result tonight, then fair play to the gaffer. Tomayisu being both sided might be why he’s in there, for versatility, and he can play centrally. Partey will definitely be drifting into midfield quite naturally, when we have the ball. I’m excited to be honest and hope e get a strong win, anything but and it seems Arteta will be on the receiving end of some backlash, later this evening. Come on Arsenal ❤️🤍

    1. I’m confident we’ll win too based on our players abilities alone despite any strange positioning.

  24. Told you my line-up prediction when we have the ball:

    …….………….……. Ramsdale
    …………….. White ……..… Saliba
    ………. Partey .… Rice …. Tomiyasu
    Saka . Odegaard . Havertz . Martinelli
    …………………………. Nketiah

  26. Amazing stat for Saka, 82nd consecutive league game. It showed at the end of last season in his form but what a record of fitness regardless.

  27. I do like this new formation which makes us more unpredictable as our 4 3 3 of last season has been analysed by opponents and struggled vs low block teams. It is a more attacking set up as well.

    1. Gutted that trossard not playing though, really want havertz to fulfill the huge potential he showed in Germany before moving to the player graveyard that is chelsea but trossard is red hot.

  28. Can anyone explain to my small football brain why we bought Havertz? Why we paid 65M for him? Why he is on over 300k per week?

    And most importantly what is he doing of any worth in this game?

    1. I was willing to ignore Chelsea fans when they were happy that we paid that much money for him and Man United for Mason Mount 😭

  29. Have to appreciate unnecessarily reinventing the wheel. Complicating the lineup, why? To confuse a bottom 1/3 Crystal Palace?

    I don’t see Pep or Klopp playing square pegs in round holes against Palace.

    I said it before, if our best available 11 lineup can’t beat a midtable Crystal Palace

    Ramsdale
    White. Saliba. Gabriel. Tomi/Tierney (inj)
    Partey Rice
    Saka. Odegaard. Martinelli
    Nketiah/ Havertz

    Then we have bigger problems.

    1. Just Havertz as striker, forget Nketiah.

      Typical Nketiah performance, missing chances. Is Balogun really less productive? Simple hard to imagine Balogun couldn’t be a better option.

      At least Balogun can score

  30. Arteta doing everything to fit his new beloved signing into the team at the expense of balance and efficiency is mind boggling.
    As for the center backs, Gabriel is miles ahead of White.
    The whole thing is just a gamble in my opinion.

    1. Very true what you said.

      NO WAY is a combo of Partey at RB and Saliba and White CB pairing better than White at RB and Saliba & Gabriel partnership.

      Sorry but Havertz shoehorned in the midfield unbalances the squad.

      If he wants Partey in midfield then position him there, rather than Partey playing inverted RB. FFS overcomplicating against Palace, wow.

  32. Eddie does so much well and his movement is quality….but there’s just always that little doubt. No argument that he’s very talented, but should’ve had at least 1 goal already.

  33. And Nketiah needs 10 clear chances to score one. Learn from Bergkamp that you should make no mistake with a half clear chance.

    I weep for football that in my lifetime I have watched the likes of Henry and Bergkamp and the likes of Nketiah in such a short space of time.

    I weep even harder seeing we are paying 300K for Havertz to casually jog.

  34. I don’t get Partey not alongside Rice. It looks like the players don’t get the new system. It is soooo slow. Hope the players get it before the end.

  36. Multiple counter attacks down the left when Partey is completely out of position. A better team would’ve slotted 1 or 2 against us already

  37. I’m trying to understand this new Arsenal formation.
    Nketiah needs to make the right decisions.
    Martinelli needs more composure. We hope for an improved second half.

  40. Far to slow in build up and for what ever reason we are finding hard to brake down a bang average mid table side. Would bring on trossard for Eddie, not his fault but just not gonna win league with him up top

  41. Having more tall players for set-pieces and long crosses was a good plan. Having Havertz, Rice, Tomiyasu, Saliba, White and Partey in the box would likely give us a goal from a dead-ball situation in the second half

    If needed, Trossard could come in to replace Nketiah or Havertz

  42. Rice has been excellent tbh – making us tick and defensively he’s been fantastic.
    Despite missing the chances, I actually think Eddie’s been really good – he’s making things happen with his dribbling and close control. We just need to find a way through and keep things tight at the back. Palace are ready to spring on the counter

      1. Tactics wrong, subs wrong, ref against us , tomi sent off for 2 yellows that was never even 1 who would of thunk it. 1-0 to the arsenal! We’ve got super mik Arteta!

  43. This is a game for Tossard, we need just a little more coordination across the front, Eddie not playing bad but we need Tossard on the pitch too.

  44. Apologies to everyone I argued with about Partey at right back, he appears to be there and the balance of the team is all wrong. He needs to be in the middle next to Rice. Trossard should come on too and yes I’m bloody frustrated!!

  45. We needed a striker and a winger who we can substitute for Saka.

    Arteta went ahead and bought Havertz; whom I still don’t understand what he does.

    Nketiah isn’t a striker we can rely on, I’d even prefer Balogun starts ahead of him. Arteta seems not to learn until something drastic happens. This is how he trusted William over everyone, I don’t understand how we’re not active in the transfer when we need these two most important positions. City has started well and doesn’t look like they’re going to waste chances this season, yet Arteta is acting like a legend in the game when he hasn’t won anything. We demand the title because there’s no underdog tag this season, this will be 20 years without the title if we don’t win this season yet Artera chooses not to be ruthless in the market.

    Someone needs to scream into his ears that we won’t accept mediocrity this season. What the hell are we trusting Nketiah for honestly?

  47. 1 shot on target
    Zero overlapping runs from fullbacks
    No switching of play to left
    Havertz anonymous

    We may have dominated the ball but that’s about it. Saliba and Rice are looking brilliant! Tomi solid at LB, BW not looking too assured.

  48. I said Havertz will ruin the shape of the team. I was called bias.
    Nketiah looks good but isn’t the striker to rely on.
    As for Arteta i am getting tired of this inverted nonsense. If you don’t rate Tierny let him, go, If you don’t see Partey playing as a midfielder let him go and if you think Trossard can’t get enough games let him go.
    I have been impressed with Rice in this game.
    Arteta is overthinking usual and is stubborn like Pep, Arteta has no idea how to integrate youth players. Patino is good enough, same with Nwaneri etc .

  49. Why the hack has Partey have to play in full back. He is the best DMF we have. It just doesn’t make sense.

    Havertz comes in and takes Odegaard position (AMF).
    Odegaard then takes Partey position.
    Partey takes Ben white position.
    Ben white moves into Saliba’s CB postion.
    Saliba moves into the other CB (Gabriel) position.

    Why would you want to do that?

    1. To prove how brilliant a manager you are, and to justify wasting 65 million on Havertz.

      Imagine needing a CM and wasting 65 million for a player and then the manager admits he doesn’t know where he fits in best.

      Just buy a CM for the money, FFS like Pepe 2.0

  50. Saudi culture and lifestyle is none of your freaking business, talk football. Holier than thou!

  51. In control of the game but completely unbalanced,because shoehorning Havertz into the team ,himself and Odegaard have been bypassed 2-3 times on the counter and they just jog back pointing at other teammates .
    Best players have been saka Martinelli and rice ,no doubt Martinelli goes off first before Havertz

  52. Harvets is wasting space in the team and hides from every push going forward. Trossard could do better.
    Partey playing too deep is not good for our attack.
    Cant wait to see trossard and zinchenko

      1. Settle down! I don’t think Eddie is good enough but like I said, you can’t question his work rate so credit to him.

  55. It shows how much some of our players have grown to produce individual brilliance where tactics are failing. Well done Marinelli.

  57. I like this formation but was it really worth it changing the system. Coach like pep and arteta tend to overcomplicate things and stick by it until it works.

    Might take a while till we see the end results, just hope we dont lose too much pts by then.

      1. Where was VAR? not even a check and if tomi foul was worthy of a 2nd yellow card then why is ayew still on the pitch? Should have been sent off earlier.

            1. Please show me that rule?

              Onlybtime it will intervene on 2nd yellow is if it believes it should’ve been a straight red and not a 2nd yellow.

              1. Yeah mixed that up can only intervene to change to red. Typical stupid rule. Coote knew it couldn’t be cancelled nice one by the corrupt.

  61. What do you expect playing players out of their positions? They can’t cope that is what!

    This tactical madness is a disaster already happening!

    1. What has playing players out of positions got to do with such a blatant dive and idiotic referring?

  62. A keep saying the whole officiating process need needs help, Mayew shouldn’t even be on the pitch if Tomi treated should be that harsh.

  63. Before attacking Tomiyasu just remember he’s not a true LB and that turn by Ayew just exposed him.The shirt pull was just instinctive any player would do that trying to make up for their mistake.

      1. Tomi thought about it, put a hand on ayew, but stopped himself – ridiculously harsh obv, but ayew felt the hand and went down, probably expecting the shirt pull.
        Definitely a wrong call, not arguing that, but it explains why ayew went down and why the ref got it wrong imo.

    2. Havertz should have got the yellow for dely on throwing, not Tomiyasu; he only had the ball briefly

    3. Tomi played well and didn’t do much to get the sending off – I think he’s fine at left back. It’s not the lineup I was expecting but I’m glad to see the faith arteta has in Tomi – I don’t think the red card will change anything in that regard

      1. I know, what I’m asking is why not? A ridiculous rule, when a game is ruined through a useless referee?

  65. Commentator says Var doesn’t review yellow cards, but a direct Red. Sounds like a sneaky way of getting players off the pitch without VAR intervention with 2 yellow cards. Stupid VAR

    1. Been like that for years, for many decisions, for many teams.

      How are people still surprised that you can’t VAR 2nd yellows.

    1. Yep kinda like Willan 2.0. Dead fish performances yet hasn’t gotten subbed off.

      Imagine if Havertz had to earn his starts, wouldn’t that be something.

  69. Your one man short ,you need players with energy . You take off Martinelli and now you take of Nketiah and leave Havertz .

  71. I know why Havertz is staying on, he’s still 100% fresh after just lightly jogging around 🤣

    But seriously I’ve seen us play with 10 men over the decades but I don’t remember it ever looking this under pressure.

  74. Alan Smith said it wasn’t particularly pretty and he is 100% right.
    Palace couldn’t hit a barn door, and we were largely under the cosh throughout the second half

  75. David coote looks sad must have lost big money on the draw. PGMOL will be fuming. Another public apology, red card rescinded and yet they didn’t get what they wanted.

      1. There will be no apologies. Tomiyasu was, maybe, unfortunate to pick up the first yellow. The second was slightly soft but can be justified.

  77. That’s a relief! Very clear all of these strange tweaks didn’t work, I’m not referring to the red card just in general. We dominated position but produced almost nothing.

    Very clear, yet again, that Trossard should’ve been playing.

  78. Tactics wrong, subs wrong, ref against us , tomi sent off for 2 yellows that was never even 1 who would of thunk it. 1-0 to the arsenal! We’ve got super mik Arteta! Be happy!

  79. Arteta is a victim of his own ego. I would’ve liked to say of his success, but he hasn’t succeeded in anything yet. Again Partey as a right back and again Havertz who stayed on even when we were reduced to 10!! Our best player, goes to left back, then out. We ended the game with all our center backs in the team.. Embarrassing!
    When Liverpool got a red card to days ago they won the match by a two goal difference.

    1. Haha, see the way you reason, when Liverpool was one man down, they went away with two more goals, Liverpool was at home, and Bournemouth is not as physical as crystal palace…
      We loose, you guys will complain, we draw, you people will complain, we win again, you are complaining…..
      You guys should be calming down and allow this team to rest. They played two games and won the two, they are 3rd on the league table and you guys are still not satisfied and complaining….
      Well congrats gunners for a job Weldon…

  81. 100% believe that was artetas plan b. To be used later in the season when in matters. See no real reason for that formation. I know that’s what pre season is for, but you can’t replicate a PL game in pre season. Well done Mikel, 2 out of 2. Keep it going. Trust the process.

  82. There are far too many fans with anti- Arteta and anti-Havertz agendas on this site.
    Crystal Palace are a difficult team to play especially on their patch.
    If Nketiah had been more efficient we would have scored more.

      1. I disagree. Rice was the best player today. Nketiah did well to win the penalty but otherwise did not make the best use of the opportunities he had.

    2. @David, I am not an anti-Havertz or something, but can you mention just one contribution he made on the pitch today? I believe would would turn up good for Arsenal but not by forcing him into the team by any means, that’s detrimental to the team balance

  83. I really hope the ref has a problem because of the two yellow card. The first one tomi took 8 seconds to through the ball. Havartz took longer with it and the second was no touch at all. We nearly lost points because of that. For years some of us have believed that Arsenal have been unfairly dealt with by the officials and here is another example of Arsenal being targeted by the refs. You bet that would never happen to a manu man city team most of the time but time and time again it happens to arsenal. I hope the club and manager does not allow this to ref. Fed up with the apologies from the referees association!!!

  84. A joke of a match I must say, first of all team selection was nothing to write home about… Ref decision ridiculous. Can someone please tell me why Martinelli and Saka was substituted but Harvertz left in the match? The only consolation tonight is the 3 points, was indeed a shi*tty match to watch. Play this formation against a big team and get punished.

    1. Seems we’ll see this for a long time to come

      Havertz played his best game today when he went up as a Striker and that was like less than 10 minutes

      He was a passenger in the midfield, we were 1 Man Short before the red card

      It’s annoying he doesn’t even get substituted

  85. Whatever Arteta is trying, wtf was that? Partey doing what at righ back. He should know that winning nothing last season and finishing second doesn’t make you a genius to try to invert everything.

  86. Oh wait! Another three points in the bag despite all that we went through?? Our non leaders even rose up to the occassion? Wow strange things still do happen i’d say…..bring on the next victim.COYG!!!

  87. My hope is we’ve not seen the best of our team yet and if we can continue to get all the wins with what seem to me a weaker set up. Perhaps we will have enough steam to finish over the line this time.

  88. Arteta is a genius even the fans can’t predict or understand his team selections. As long as we played well and got the 3 deserved point I don’t care who the manager play or not. Unto the next game.

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