Tierney, Tomiyasu and Vieira have also struggled with injuries and struggled for minutes in the pre-season. When asked on Thursday about the fitness of Arsenal’s back four, Arteta said: “Well, three out of four of them will probably train this afternoon. “If all goes well, they will be available for selection in the team. Hopefully they will start to recover, because they have lost a lot of minutes and time in preparation. They are very important players for us.”
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Pressed to clarify which of the four will not train, Arteta replied: “Good question! You’ll find out tomorrow.” Apart from that, Arsenal have a clean sheet and Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko and William Saliba should all make their competitive debuts against Palace. Possible Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Partey, Xhaka? Saka, Jesus, Martinelli. Friday 8 p.m. BST, Sky Sports Venue: Selhurst Park Referee: Michael Oliver Arsenal XI: Hayne, Ramsdale, Runarsson, Turner? Bellerin, Cedric, Gabriel, Holding, Mari, Saliba, Tierney, Tomiyasu, White, Zinchenko; Elneny, Longa, Maitland-Niles, Odegaard, Partey, Sack, Smith Rowe, Scallop, Xhaka; Jesus, Martinelli, Marquinhos, Nelson Nketiah and Pepe. Doubts: Smith Rowe (groin), Vieira (foot), Tierney (knee), Tomiyasu (calf)
