Butler-Oyedeji starts, Saka and Saliba rested for PSG - Arsenal line-ups vs Crystal Palace

Arsenal take on Crystal Palace in what is a very difficult game to preview, considering both teams know their next match is a semi-final.

It is good that Arsenal will have a whole six days between this and their next game, giving Mikel Arteta many options for the match.

Thomas Partey was an unused substitute against Ipswich, and his suspension for the next game means he too is an odd factor in this game's selection. With that in mind, football.london's writers give their views on who they think should start.

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Tom Canton

I have gone back and forth regarding what I think is the right move here. For Arsenal, they need to be best prepared and most-rested for next week, but considering they do not have a game on the weekend, it makes sense to prioritise preparation, helped further by the dynamic that both teams have such key games coming up next.

Jurrien Timber and Myles Lewis-Skelly come back into the side. I have stuck with the same midfield that we saw at Ipswich. Mikel Merino was excellent, and it is good to let Leandro Trossard continue having scored a brace when moved to centre-forward; he has earned that spot.

Declan Rice gets more time playing defensive midfield and can be rested later on when Thomas Partey enters the fray. The only player I have taken extra precautions with is Bukayo Saka after he was on the end of such a tough challenge at the weekend; Ethan Nwaneri, who scored at Portman Road, comes in from the start.

Canton's Arsenal XI vs Crystal Palace: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Rice, Merino, Odegaard; Nwaneri, Trossard, Martinelli.

Joe Doyle

While there is still a week to go before the game against PSG, a spot in the top five is all but secure, so I'd be wrapping up the top stars in cotton wool.

There's not really any need to rotate goalkeepers, but why not give David Raya a day off? After all, Neto has only had one appearance for the Gunners this season. Should the worst happen, and Raya picks up an injury, it would very much be throwing the loanee in at the deep end ahead of the biggest games for the club in many a year. Give him a bit more time on the pitch now.

I'd be tempted to switch things up a bit in defence and finally give William Saliba a rest. So, after Jurrien Timber was afforded a role on the bench against Ipswich, I'd start him at right-back with Ben White moving to centre-back. He starts alongside Jakub Kiwior, with Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back once again.

Nathan Butler-Oyedeji got his Premier League debut off the bench at the weekend, and I'd start him here up front, which also affects what happens in midfield. Mikel Merino gets a run-out in centre-mid, but I'd take him off at half-time to keep him fresh for next week.

Alongside Merino in midfield, it's Ethan Nwaneri and Thomas Partey. And in attack, I'd go for Kieran Tierney on the left with Raheem Sterling on the right. Not your usual Gunners line-up, but one that could certainly be interesting with an eye on the PSG clash.

Doyle's Arsenal XI vs Crystal Palace: Neto; Timber, White, Kiwior, Zinchenko; Partey, Nwaneri, Merino; Sterling, Tierney, Butler-Oyedeji.