It`s been 11 wins on the bounce for the Gunners. Talk about footballing prowess. £102.5m of transfer business has got The Arsenal banging goals game after game, and boy do they bang them in style. Arsenal face a 15th placed Crystal Palace side at Selhurst Park on Sunday, a side that has lost three of their last five games, drawn once and won once. Arsenal are in exhilarating form. Players are finally stepping up even when the team isn’t clicking well in games. Competition has never been this stiff in almost a decade at the club for nearly half a decade. The emirates faithful are expecting a routine win this Sunday.
Fine form of our striking partners in Alexander Lacazette and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang has got the club firing up the table even after a dismal start to the season. The midfield looks solid with the 5`6 Uruguayan international offering defensive solidity at the center of the park. Xhaka looks to be enjoying his football in midfield and the likes of Guendouzi offer the manager more options. Bellerin is finally bossing it at right back. 2 assists against Leicester on Monday night showed just what the pacy Spaniard can do on his day. Sokratis and Mustafi have formed a decent partnership in central defense while Lichsteiner is a plus to the squad in terms of experience especially when playing in big matches. Leno seems a steal at £20m.
Arsenal
Form: W W W W W
League Position: 4th
Goals Scored: 22
Goals Conceded: 11
Crystal Palace
Form: L L L D W
League Position: 15th
Goals Scored: 5
Goals Conceded: 11
Roy Hodgson‘s squad are in poor form. They only scored 5 goals this season compared to arsenal`s 22. Going forward has certainly been difficult for this Palace side. It only gets worse. They haven`t won a home game in their last 4 attempts and have scored none at their home ground this season. Defensively they`ve conceded 5 goals at home which is 2 goals less than what Arsenal have conceded away from home, but Arsenal`s potent attacking force could blow them away.
Areas to Watch
MESUT OZIL
Mesut Özil has been pulling the strings with his football wizardry, a major reason for our resurgence under Unai Emery. With 3 goals and an assist the former German international has been an integral part of our attacking fire power. His creativity and command of the game of the game in his favored no.10 role has been just world class. He`s got all the qualities of a Rolls Royce-modern-day premier league midfielder: slick first touch, excellent passing and oh my does he have vision. Crystal Palace are going to have to work extra hard to keep him quiet.
HECTOR BELLERIN
The pacy right back has come back to life this season under Unai. Suggestions that his playing days at Arsenal were over have been put to bed by his current form. 4 assists already this season have made him a potent attacking tool on the right flank. His crossing has hugely improved this season. There were rumors he`d be one of “Unai`s Untouchables” and he`s clearly seized the chance to cement his place in the gaffer`s starting lineup. Palace are really going to have to find a way to keep up with his marauding runs on the right flank.
CENTRAL DEFENCE
For a top 4 side we have been conceding a load of goals. The return of Sokratis will be very important. Even Unai Emery has said he`s not really satisfied with the way we play, and the manager might be referring to the side`s defense. Mustafi has looked decent in recent games but we need no-nonsense-Tony-Adams-kind of defending if we`re to lift major silverware this season in the premiership. Sokratis the summer signing from Dortmund has certainly improved the defense with his old school hard knock defending. With all due respect Palace don`t pose much of a threat going forward, so an organized defense could get the Arsenal going in tomorrow`s encounter.
WILFRIED ZAHA
The Ivorian winger is a menace on either wing. In his preferred no. 11 role he can terrorize defenses on any day. His 3 goals and an assist have given Palace some sort of hope this season despite their woes. Arsenal`s resolve in defense will be tested again by the Ivorian and this will be one of the highlight battles in the game.
Prediction
Arsenal could walk away with all 3 points at Selhurst Park tomorrow. Crystal Palace have been in poor form of late and nothing Palace have seems like it could stop Arsenal at the moment.
Expected Lineup
GK: Bernd Leno
RB: Hector Bellerin
CB: Shkodran Mustafi
CB: Sokratis
LB: Nacho Monreal
CM: Granit Xhaka
CM: Lucas Torreira
RW: Alex Iwobi
CAM: Mesut Ozil
LW: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
ST: Alex Lacazette
Benjamin Mugambi
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