If there were a game that Arsene Wenger would have wanted to ease the team back into the flow of things after a midweek defeat at Dortmund; it would be a managerless Crystal Palace.
A win will see the gunners maintain their position at the top of the table. In the form that we have been in, anything other than 3 points would be a massive disappointment.
Injury News
Mathieu Flamini is set to return from the concussion that left him unavailable to face Dortmund, while Jack Wilshere is will face an injury test in the morning to determine the state of his ankle.
Other Long Term Absentees
Oxlade-Chamberlain: (estimated return in December)
Walcott: (estimated return after the COC game vs Chelsea)
Podolski: (estimated return at the end of November)
Sanogo: (estimated return in mid-November)
Diaby: (N/A)
Defence
This week could see the first start of the campaign for the captain, Thomas Vermaelen. The Mertesacker/Koscielny axis has been working well this season, but the manager may want to change things up after the mid-week defeat. This could just be to ensure that nobody believes their place is guaranteed.
This logic could also see Nacho Monreal start the game ahead of Kieran Gibbs. Gibbs has been fantastic this season, playing by far the best football of his career. However, the manager may want to see what the Spaniard has to offer besides making cameos in the last 10 minutes as either a 5th defender or a left winger.
Midfield
Cazorla may also be likely to regain his starting position after being on the bench for the Champions League encounter. When he came on against Dortmund the team seemed to look like it had been galvanized, holding the possession for longer periods and applying more of a threat. Ultimately that is probably what cost us a point, but if Hummels didn’t pull off a blinder of a goalline clearance, who knows what would have happened.
Aaron Ramsey’s mistake leading to Dortmund’s first goal may be thought of as a blip in an otherwise astonishing season, unlikely to cost him his place in the team.
Confirmed line-up
Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Flamini, Ramsey, Ozil, Cazorla, Giroud
Note to all UK Gooners: BT sport will be free to all BT, Sky, Virgin Media & Freeview viewers for tomorrow’s game
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