It's been a lengthy wait but Arsenal are finally back in action on Saturday. Mikel Arteta feels his side's warm weather training camp has "recharged their batteries". This will be put to the test at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday when Crystal Palace come to visit.
Down in 14th in the Premier League table, the Eagles are fortuitous opponents for Arsenal to get over a slump that has seen them claim victory once in their last seven matches. Roy Hodgson's men have form for shocks this season though and after taking a point against Manchester City and running Liverpool very close in a 2-1 defeat, the Gunners will need to be at their best to claim a crucial three points.
Arteta will want to ensure this by getting his starting XI for Palace spot on. Luckily football.london's Gunners writers Kaya Kaynak and Tom Canton are on hand to help him decide who he should pick.
Tom Canton - Football writerArsenal return to action after some time away in Dubai and a chance for a clean slate to forget about the poor form leading up to the FA Cup elimination. With that, some changes to the line-up I would like to see might seem drastic but with that new leaf comes new opportunities.
Aaron Ramsdale impressed me against Liverpool with his distribution and shot-stopping and I would like to see him maintain his place in the squad having earned it. Consistency in messaging is key and the England international deserves the chance to establish himself again following that display.
Another big move is to bring Emile Smith Rowe into the fray centrally. Jorginho is a doubt and therefore giving Smith Rowe the chance to partner Martin Odegaard having been away and training well in the Middle East will be a great opportunity.
Elsewhere the only other changes see Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli join Bukayo Saka in the front line. Jesus returned to train from a knee problem in Dubai and it is a chance for him to find some goalscoring form again.
The defence has little choice with the starting back four being the senior players available. Jakub Kiwior faces another test with Oleksandr Zinchenko a doubt but there is little need to risk him.
Canton’s Arsenal XI vs Crystal Palace - Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Rice, Smith Rowe, Odegaard; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
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Kaya Kaynak - Chief Arsenal correspondentEven if Aaron Ramsdale was good against Liverpool, with the control Arsenal are likely to want in this game I think David Raya makes more sense as the goalkeeping pick. It's harsh on Ramsdale who I don't think will get much game time between now and the end of the season at this point.
The defence largely picks itself with all the injuries Arsenal are suffering right now. Oleksandr Zinchenko is unlikely to be fit and even if he is I wouldn't take the risk.
In midfield I don't think you need both Jorginho and Declan Rice, so I'm starting the latter as a lone pivot. In front of him Martin Odegaard is an obvious pick, and I'm going for Kai Havertz, whose aerial ability could be key against the Palace low block.
Up front I think it makes more sense to play a tight spaces player like Leandro Trossard than an open spaces player like Gabriel Martinelli against the Palace defence. Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka meanwhile have to start in the other two positions despite relatively poor runs in front of goal recently.
Kaynak's Arsenal XI vs Crystal Palace - Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Rice, Odegaard, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Trossard
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