Gabriel Jesus scored a hattrick against Sevilla. Credit: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty ImagesGabriel Jesus scored a hattrick against Sevilla. Credit: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Gabriel Jesus scored a hattrick against Sevilla. Credit: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Arsenal predicted starting XI v Crystal Palace: Arteta has big calls to make on Nketiah & Martinelli

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be looking to get all three points at Selhurst Park, and will go with his best team.

Mikel Arteta will have that humiliating 3-0 defeat at Selhurst Park in mind when he picks his Arsenal side for Friday night’s Premier League opener.

The Gunners went into this fixture last season looking to secure Champions League football, but fell to one of their most disappointing defeats of the season under the lights in South London.

That was the game where the wheels came off for the club’s European push, as midfielder Thomas Partey picked up a muscle injury which ruled him out of the rest of the season.

Many fans believe that if the midfielder was fit, Arsenal’s chances of finishing in the top four would have improved.

Going by their pre-season form, Arteta’s side look sharp and are hoping to get their season off to a flyer after laying the foundations in advance.

For the third straight campaign, their first game is a London derby, having played against Fulham two years ago and Brentford last season.

Arteta will know what it means to be catching up, so a good start is what the Spanish manager would be looking for under the lights at Selhurst Park.

Patrick Vieira took four points off him last season, and Arteta would be wary of that and look to stamp his authority and put his club’s recent struggles at the hands of Crystal Palace to bed.

Areta has a few key decisions to make - where to play new signing Oleg Zinchenko and whether Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah can force their way into his side.

With old debates looking to be reignited and the season that promises to be make or break for the Gunners, here is how we think Arteta will set up his team for the crunch game against Palace.