Predicted Arsenal line-up (4-2-3-1) vs Crystal Palace, Eze & Jesus start

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December 23, 2025 18:26 GMT (UK), by Sri Aswin

Arsenal host Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup quarter-final tonight. Ahead of the game, manager Mikel Arteta could make eight changes to the starting XI.

The Gunners have two crucial home league games against Brighton & Hove Albion and Aston Villa before the New Year. There could be plenty of rotation.

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Predicted Line-up:

Kepa Arrizabalaga has been the regular goalkeeper in the Carabao Cup, keeping two clean sheets. He will be eyeing another shutout in the derby.

The backline could witness one change from last weekend. Myles Lewis-Skelly could come in for Riccardo Calafiori in the left-back position.

Jurrien Timber, William Saliba and Piero Hincapie are expected to start with Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera and Gabriel Magalhaes out injured.

Martin Zubimendi, Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice could be given breathers tonight. We fancy Christian Norgaard to start in the number six role, with Mikel Merino occupying the number eight slot.

Eberechi Eze could line up as the attacking midfielder against his former employers. The Englishman scored the only goal during the recent league meeting against the Eagles at the Emirates Stadium.

In the final third, Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and Viktor Gyokeres could likewise be rested. Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli should start on the right and left wing with Gabriel Jesus upfront.

Madueke scored a brace against Club Brugge in the Champions League, but has not featured in the last two games. He is poised to start tonight.

Jesus has five goals in his last two meetings against Palace including a hat-trick in the League Cup quarter-final at the Emirates last term. 

Predicted Arsenal line-up (4-2-3-1) vs Crystal Palace: Arrizabalaga; Timber, Saliba, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Norgaard, Merino, Eze; Madueke, Jesus, Martinelli.