Arsenal know the Premier League title race is all but over, but the Gunners still need to maintain momentum heading into their Champions League semi-final with Paris Saint-Germain with victory over Crystal Palace.
The Gunners will have the luxury of some additional rest ahead of the visit of PSG to Emirates Stadium, with Wednesday’s London derby brought forward because of Palace’s participation in the FA Cup semi-finals this weekend.
Progressing to the Champions League final next month is the priority for Arsenal, with their hopes of beating Liverpool to the Premier League title having essentially been extinguished. Liverpool will be confirmed as champions if Arsenal lose to Palace or if they beat Tottenham on Sunday.
Arsenal, though, will not want to hand the title to Liverpool and head into an extremely tough semi-final with PSG on the wrong foot, and manager Mikel Arteta has made that clear with his team selection.
Palace are still technically in the mix for European qualification via the league and, though securing a place in the FA Cup final by beating Aston Villa this weekend is the focus for the Eagles, they too have named a strong starting XI.
Arsenal team news
Arsenal make four changes from the side that beat Ipswich Town 4-0 last Sunday.
Myles Lewis-Skelly and Jurrien Timber replacing Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko at the full-back spots, with White joining Mikel Merino in dropping out of the squad altogether.
Thomas Partey comes in for Merino, while Raheem Sterling starts ahead of Bukayo Saka.
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Lewis-Skelly, Saliba, Kiwior, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Sterling, Martinelli, Trossard.
Subs: Neto, Tierney, Zinchenko, Gower, Henry-Francis, Butler-Oyedeji, Kabia, Nwaneri, Saka.
Crystal Palace team news
Perhaps with one eye on the meeting with Villa at Wembley, Glasner has left both Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr out of the starting XI.
There is a place in the XI for former Arsenal forward Eddie Nketiah, while 21-year-old Justin Devenny makes only his fourth league start of the season.
Crystal Palace: Henderson, Munoz, Richards, Lacroix, Guehi, Mitchell, Wharton, Kamada, Devenny, Eze, Nketiah
Subs: Turner, Ward, Sarr, Franca, Mateta, Clyne, Hughes, Esse, Kporha
