Changes expected against Crystal Palace following 1-0 defeat at Sheffield United.
You have to think that Unai Emery will be making changes to the team that lost to Sheff Utd last Monday evening. However, the Spaniard is proving to be a bit stubborn when it comes to making the necessary adjustments to the senior team.
It was surprising that Kieran Tierney was not started against the Blades, in fact, it was a shock to see none of the previous long term injured players start.
Emery is now under severe pressure, he cannot afford a second consecutive loss in games that Arsenal should win. If the 43-year-old persists with the same tired team he will only have himself to blame when it all goes wrong.
Bernd Leno will be between the sticks, that is a given. In front of him, the chances are that Emery will stick with Luiz and Sokratis in the centre. It is on the flanks that most focus will be on when the line-up is released.
I cannot see any justification in Emery not starting Tierney but I suspect he will stay loyal to Kolasinac. On the other side, I see the same scenario, Chambers will keep his place ahead of Bellerin.
In the middle, you just know that the manager will field both Xhaka and Guendouzi either with Torreira or Ceballos. I suspect it will be Ceballos. I cannot see him playing Willock from the start.
Upfront should be simple really with Lacazette, Pepe and Aubameyang starting.
So, this is the team I believe Emery will start with.
Leno
Kolasinac
Luiz
Sokratis
Chambers
Xhaka
Ceballos
Guendouzi
Pepe
Aubameyang
Lacazette.
Now, that is not the team I would start with. There are no less than six players I would change from that line-up. But I am not the manager, Emery is and that is the team I reckon he will start the game with.
What team would you pick?