Jens Lehmann is expected to retain the keeper's jersey having performed reasonably sanely against Villa.

Justin Hoyte is unavailable having picked up an injury on international duty in midweek. Robin van Persie is back from injury but likely to start on the bench with Dennis and Thierry up front. Edu is a slight doubt through injury but is expected to be ok to partner Vieira. Freddie Ljungberg has an ankle injury and although he's back in training he's not likely to be used so it'll be Pires and Reyes on the wings.

Palace also have a defender returning from a ban in Uruguayan Gonzalo Sorondo, but long-term injuries keep Nicola Ventola and former Gunner Tommy Black out. But Finnish pair Aki Riihilahti and Joonas Kolkka are back to full fitness so they should field a side similar to that which was unlucky to only get a point off us at Selhurst Park earlier in the season (at the start of the post-OldTrafford slump), when Riihilati got their goal.

The match sees the Premiership's 2 leading scorers come head-to-head. And it's Thierry Henry's 200th start for the Gunners.