Three big Arsenal selection decisions for Crystal Palace before PSG | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta has several factors to weigh up ahead of Champions League semi-final first-leg tie next week

Big calls: Mikel Arteta has decisions to make over Arsenal trio Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Mikel Merino against Crystal Palace

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Mikel Arteta has a number of selection headaches for Arsenal’s clash with Crystal Palace.

But the Arsenal boss will surely be wary of risking players given the title race is effectively over and their season is now all about the Champions League.

Here, Standard Sport looks at three big calls Arteta has to make…

How many minutes does Saka get?

Arsenal were given a huge injury scare in Sunday’s 4-0 win at Ipswich when Bukayo Saka was forced to come off before the hour mark.

The winger was hurt by a late challenge in the first half from Ipswich defender Leif Davis, who raked his studs down the back of his Achilles and was sent off.

Saka was on the receiving end of a late challenge from Ipswich defender Leif Davis on Sunday

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Saka was able to continue but he came off early after the break and his ankle was iced while he sat on the bench in the second half. The 23-year-old was later spotted limping to the team bus.

Arteta insisted after the game that Saka was fine and he reiterated that on Tuesday, adding the winger could play against Palace.

But there will surely be a fear that Saka could easily get caught again given he is routinely targeted by opposition defenders.

Indeed, in the Premier League this season, Leandro Trossard is the only Arsenal player to have drawn more fouls than Saka. And that is despite Trossard having played nearly 700 minutes more.

Saka has also only recently returned from a hamstring injury that kept him out for three months, with Ipswich his first start in the Premier League since then.

Play Partey or experiment for PSG?

Arsenal will be without Thomas Partey for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against PSG because he is suspended.

It has left Arteta with a decision to make as to who plays at the base of midfield because Jorginho is also out injured.

Declan Rice played there against Ipswich, starting a game as a No6 for Arsenal for the first time since January.

Declan Rice is set for a deeper role against PSG with Thomas Partey suspended

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Rice has been playing in a more advanced role for Arsenal for the best part of a year, but could be forced to drop deep against PSG.

The dilemma for Arteta is whether he gives Rice another run there against Crystal Palace, or he hands Partey a start.

Partey was an unused substitute in the Ipswich win, but he has been in fine form this season.

Partey has been a key cog of Arsenal’s midfield but, given he cannot play against PSG, Arteta may value the chance to dry run a new combination against Palace.

Use Merino or Trossard as a No9?

The knock-on impact of Partey being suspended for the first leg against PSG is that Mikel Merino may have to play in midfield.

Merino has excelled as an emergency striker since February, but against Ipswich on Sunday he was restored to his natural position of midfield.

Leandro Trossard scored twice against Ipswich

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That led to Trossard leading the line and the Belgian did well, scoring a brace for the first time in his Arsenal career.

Arteta may want to roll that set up out again when against Palace, especially as it is likely to be the way he will line his side up against PSG.

But Palace traditionally play with a back-three and Trossard could struggle against three imposing centre-backs.

Merino may be more suited to such a battle given his height and size, and he has worked well when asked to be a focal point for Arsenal recently.