With the race for the top 4 looking more condensed than ever, Arsenal enter a crucial period of games which will go a long way to determining their finishing position. This represents the middle of three consecutive London derbies away from home and Arsene Wenger will be looking for an improved performance and result in South East London.
I wonder if he might repeat the experiment to play both Cazorla and Özil in central roles in the midfield. Palace are likely to sit back and soak up pressure, before breaking with pace via the likes of Zaha, Balasie and Puncheon. In that respect, Palace are setup in the manner that Pardew favours. They play very similarly to his Newcastle side. Wenger might reason that with Cazorla and Özil in the midfield, Palace will be starved of possession. Jack Wilshere is available again, but it may be too soon to ask him to start a game.
Palace have conceded many goals from crosses this season because they commit their wingers very high up the pitch. Arsenal are not a crossing team per se, but the likes of Özil and Cazorla may be attracted into wider areas where they can make combinations with Arsenal`s full backs. It will be interesting to see whether Wenger cedes to Palace`s wide threat and plays Danny Welbeck for protection, or whether he looks to seize upon their vulnerability in behind the full backs by opting for Theo Walcott.
Palace found Serge Gnabry difficult to contain last season, due to his directness. He drew the penalty which saw Mikel Arteta open the scoring. That said, the home side offer most of their threat from wide, which explains why they have favoured more direct frontmen. The Gunners` full backs will need to be on their guard and the centre halves will have many crosses to contend with.
Vital Quotes:
Arsene Wenger is happy to have Jack Wilshere available again following three months out with an ankle injury, but insists he won`t compromise the balance of the team to fit him in, “Jack is a bit ahead of schedule and has worked hard with no big problems, so it’s good to have him back,’ said Wenger.
“It is always difficult to come back straightaway. What is good is that [he is] already back (earlier than expected).
‘That injury was on the left ankle. He had all his problems on the right ankle. It is a straightforward injury – once it’s healed, there’s no problem.
“No matter who plays, you always worry first about the balance of the team, yes.”
Eagles manager Alan Pardew insists he has settled his differences with Arsene Wenger. The two shared a heated touchline exchange back in 2006, but the Palace manager insists it is water under the bridge, “Arsene is a winner and so am I,” he said. “So when we meet, we are going to clash because we both want to win. You clash during games and incidents happen, like last-minute goals, coming back from 4-0 down.
“I have had some rip-roaring encounters with Arsenal. It is the emotion of the game. I have always had a very respectful relationship with Arsene. He let me visit their training ground when I was a young coach. I respect Arsene`s emotions and he respects mine. He has a good team this year, one that can challenge for trophies.”
Crystal Palace Team News:
Crystal Palace will have to fare without Yaya Sanogo, who is not allowed to play against his parent club. But captain Mile Jedinak is expected to return from an ankle injury picked up on international duty in January. James McArthur is also expected to return. Jonathan Williams (groin) is out.
Crystal Palace; Speroni, Ward, Mariappa, Hangeland, Dann, Bolasie, Guedioura, Campbell, Zaha, Hennessey, Thomas, Jedinak, Gayle, Murray, McArthur, Lee Chung-Yong, Mutch, Ameobi, Delaney, Ledley, Chamakh, Kelly, Souare, Puncheon.
Player to watch: Yannick Bolasie
One of the Premier League`s most entertaining and unpredictable players. ‘Crazy legs` Bolasie is one of the focuses of Palace`s flank based, pacy counter attacks. Occasionally it looks as likely that he will trip over his own feet as skin his full back, but Bolasie has embraced a personal sports psychologist in a bid to obtain consistency and it looks to be working. Under Pardew, Bolasie`s strengths are allowed to flourish. Capable of playing on either flank, he will be the Eagles` key man.
Arsenal Team News:
Arsenal welcome back Jack Wilshere from an ankle injury and he goes straight into the squad. Mathieu Flamini and Héctor Bellerin face late fitness tests. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is training again after a knee problem, but will not feature.
Mathieu Debuchy (shoulder), Mikel Arteta (ankle) and Aaron Ramsey (hamstring) are still unavailable.
Arsenal (from); Szczesny, Gibbs, Mertesacker, Gabriel, Koscielny, Rosicky, Wilshere, Özil, Giroud, Ospina, Walcott, Alexis, Monreal, S.Cazorla, Flamini, Chambers, Welbeck, Coquelin, Akpom, Bellerin.
Player to watch: Francis Coquelin
Coquelin has suited Arsenal`s style because he patrols the pitch laterally and he will need to be on hand to scamper to both sides of the pitch on Saturday to help his full backs combat the threat of Balasie and Zaha. With Arsenal`s more conservative midfielders all missing through injury, he will also be required to protect his centre halves as well. If Arsenal don`t keep the ball well, Coquelin`s workload will be more significant than usual.
Match Facts & Stats
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 11 visits to Selhurst Park in all competitions (W6, D5) dating back to 1979, when they lost their only fixture at the ground (P17 W9 D7 L1).
The Gunners have won seven and lost none of the last 10 meetings with Palace in all competitions.
Palace last beat Arsenal in 1994 when they won 2-1 at Highbury in the Premier League.
In 11 encounters between the teams in the Premier League, Palace have won just once and scored six goals in total.
The Eagles have won just three of their last 14 league games at Selhurst Park (W3, D4, L7).
Arsenal have won just one of 12 Premier League games after falling behind this season – that was against Crystal Palace on the opening day of the season.
Four of Arsenal`s six London derbies in the league have ended with a 2-1 scoreline (W3 L1).
All stats courtesy of opta
Ref Watch:
The referee will be Mark Clattenburg.
Match Prediction:
I fancy Arsenal to edge this one 2-1. Giroud and Cazorla for Arsenal, Gayle for Palace.
Next Fixtures:
Arsenal are at home to A.S. Monaco on Wednesday night at 7.45pm in the Champions League 2nd round 1st leg. Crystal Palace play away at West Ham United, 12.45pm next Saturday.