Crystal Palace vs Arsenal: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injuries

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Arsenal faced a quick turnaround before another clash with Crystal Palace in the Premier League later today.

The Gunners booked their place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals on Wednesday as a Gabriel Jesus hat-trick fired them to a 3-2 win over Palace at the Emirates.

And both sides are at it again – this time at Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon – with both hoping to build on their impressive league form in recent weeks.

A 3-1 win over rivals Brighton extended Palace’s unbeaten run to five games in the league, while Arteta’s side have not lost any of their last nine in all competitions since a 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan at the start of November.

Despite their good run, the Gunners continued to be hampered with injuries, with several key players facing a race to be fit for Saturday’s match.

Declan Rice has overcome the injury that forced him off in the second half against Everton last Saturday, while Riccardo Calafiori is also back fit after a knee injury.

Calafiori and Oleksandr Zinchenko have been working their way back to fitness, after the Italian has missed the side’s last five games with a groin injury and the Ukrainian sustained a muscle injury.

Calafiori could return against Palace but Myles Lewis-Skelly may keep his spot in the team having impressed in his first league start last weekend.

Elsewhere, Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu remain long-term absentees with both unlikely to return imminently to Arsenal’s defence.

Otherwise, Arteta may be forced to consider some tactical tweaks, particularly given his side’s tame display against Everton last weekend.

Jesus’ hat-trick was much-needed but the Brazillian will likely have to prove himself a more reliable goalscorer before usurping Kai Havertz as the first-choice striker.

Leandro Trossard enjoyed a productive second half in midweek and could keep his place in the starting XI instead of Gabriel Martinelli, while Thomas Partey could return to his central midfield role to replace Mikel Merino.

Predicted Arsenal XI to face Crystal Palace

Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Odegaard, Rice, Partey, Saka, Havertz, Trossard

Where to watch Crystal Palace vs Arsenal? Kick-off time and TV channel

Crystal Palace vs Arsenal kicks off at 5.30pm on Saturday, December 21. The match will be broadcast on Sky Sports, with viewers also able to catch the action on Sky Go and NowTV.

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