Calafiori and Rice return, Jesus decision made - Arsenal vs Crystal Palace line ups

It feels like a weight has been lifted off the shoulders in north London.

Wednesday’s battling win was just what the doctor ordered in so many ways for Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard got to see a character that has been desperately lacking from his side in the second half and got his star striker back among the goals to boot.

Now he’ll want to keep that momentum going in a title race where Arsenal need points. The Gunners are currently third in the league, four points off second placed Chelsea and six points off leaders Liverpool. A win at Palace would put the pressure on the Blues and the Reds, with the two teams playing on Sunday.

Arteta does have a number of selection issues going into the match on Saturday evening, however. Here’s who football.london's Arsenal writers are expecting him to pick against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Tom Canton - Football writer

How nice it is to have some selection headaches, as Mikel Arteta tells us that several Arsenal stars are back and available for selection. That said, none of them feature in my team as I lean much more toward the sign of caution.

They can enter the fray later on for some more important minutes on the field but having players in their natural positions is what I would love to see. Jurrien Timber and Myles Lewis-Skelly in the full-back roles with both William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes returning to the centre of defence.

With Declan Rice available but a risk to play, I would lean into Thomas Partey in the defensive midfield role, with Mikel Merino and Martin Odegaard ahead of him. Bukayo Saka naturally continues his role in the forward line, too.

Gabriel Jesus has earned his place in the starting line-up and will play against the same defenders again looking to find the spaces and consolidate this form. Gabriel Martinelli is fully rested and ready to attack again a weakened Palace right-hand side.

Canton’s Arsenal XI vs Crystal Palace: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Merino, Odegaard; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.

Kaya Kaynak - Chief Arsenal correspondent

I'm hoping that Mikel Arteta has learned his lesson in midweek. Thomas Partey at right back does not work! Surely it's got to be Jurrien Timber back in the role with William Saliba starting at centre-back.

There's a big decision to be made at left-back too. Riccardo Calafiori and Oleksandr Zinchenko are back, but I personally am going to stick with Myles Lewis-Skelly.

In midfield I'm putting Partey back in his preferred position. My preference is always the trio with Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice.

Up front I'm definitely sticking with Gabriel Jesus. What kind of message does it send if a player scores a hat-trick in the Carabao Cup team and doesn't then get a say in the Premier League?

The same logic applies to Leandro Trossard on the left wing who was good in midweek. Gabriel Martinelli hasn't been in good enough form recently.

Kaynak's Arsenal XI vs Crystal Palace - Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Odegaard, Rice; Saka, Jesus, Trossard.