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Football London
Football London
Sport
Mark Wyatt

Crystal Palace team confirmed vs Arsenal: Wilfried Zaha not included, Christian Benteke in

Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira has made one change to his side to take on Arsenal tonight at the Emirates and the big news is Wilfried Zaha is not in the squad.

The Ivorian is missing from the Palace squad for the first time this season, though currently there has been no official communication as to why that is.

His place in the lineup has been taken by Belgian Christian Benteke.

Elsewhere, Vieira has kept faith in Jordan Ayew despite him failing to impress in front of goal during his few appearances so far this season and teenager Michael Olise making a big impression off the bench.

But it seems, what with Zaha's omission from the side, Vieira has decided to keep faith with the experienced Ghanaian.

In midfield, captain Luka Milivojevic is once again preferred to Cheikhou Kouyate, with the Serbian now starting the last three games for Vieira since his return from illness at the start of the season.

James McArthur is also in the Palace midfield alongside Conor Gallagher, who scored for England Under-21s against Slovenia during the international break.

At the back, Vieira has named the same defensive unit that he has for the last seven Premier League games running.

Spaniard Vicente Guaita starts in between the sticks, with Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen partnering with each other once again at the heart of the defence.

On the left, Tyrick Mitchell will be tasked with providing attacking support to Wilfried Zaha, while Joel Ward is back in at right-back following another sturdy showing against Leicester last time out.

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Mitchell, Andersen, Guehi, Ward, Milivojevic, McArthur, Gallagher, Schlupp, Edouard, Ayew.

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