Having got lucky and sneaked past Vitoria on Thursday night, Arsenal return to league action as they welcome last season's nemisis Crystal Palace to the Emirates Stadium.
Wilfried Zaha transfer drama aside, there is still plenty of beef between the two sides after Palace effectively skittled the Gunners' charge for 4th place last season. Then, it was a calamity of errors in defence from Shkodran Mustafi and this time around it's likely to be Sokratis and Luiz but can we, based on what we've seen this season, assume it will be any different?
Palace play a simple but dogged game and are always tough to break down, especially away from home. They are highly likely to sit in and make it tough for Arsenal's midfield to find their forwards with little room to work with. Step forward Mesut Ozil. Unai Emery's pathetic agenda against the German is almost to the point of backfiring as his team's lack of creativity of late is making Ozil look an even better player. Time to include him, even as an option from the bench. When its locked and tough finding a way through, there is no ome better in the Arsenal squad to unlock a defence.
Bellerin, Tierney and Holding all played the full ninety Thursday night which sadly means they are unlikely to start again against Palace. The only absentee though is Reiss Nelson who continues to miss out with an injury. Bernd Leno will return to the team after a European break, as will Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who was given the night off altogether in midweek.
Palace come into this one in reasonable form sitting a point (and place) behind the Gunners after wins for City, Chelsea and Leicester this weekend. They are likely to welcome back first choice stopper Vicente Guaita amd have the option of the returning Martin Kelly in defence. Mamadou Sakho and Conor Wickham remain unavailable through injury but Manager Roy Hodgson still has plenty of solid options to choose from. Dangerman Wilfried Zaha will be hungry leaving David Luiz and co will have it all to do come kick off tomorrow.
Expected lineup:
GK: Bernd Leno
RB: Calum Chambers
CB: Sokratis
CB: David Luiz
LB: Sead Kolasinac
CM: Matteo Guendouzi
CM: Granit Xhaka
CAM: Dani Ceballos
RW: Nico Pepe
ST: Alex Lacazette
LW: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Prediction: 2-1 sneaker in Arsenal's favour.
@craigbennett10
Wilfried Zaha transfer drama aside, there is still plenty of beef between the two sides after Palace effectively skittled the Gunners' charge for 4th place last season. Then, it was a calamity of errors in defence from Shkodran Mustafi and this time around it's likely to be Sokratis and Luiz but can we, based on what we've seen this season, assume it will be any different?
Palace play a simple but dogged game and are always tough to break down, especially away from home. They are highly likely to sit in and make it tough for Arsenal's midfield to find their forwards with little room to work with. Step forward Mesut Ozil. Unai Emery's pathetic agenda against the German is almost to the point of backfiring as his team's lack of creativity of late is making Ozil look an even better player. Time to include him, even as an option from the bench. When its locked and tough finding a way through, there is no ome better in the Arsenal squad to unlock a defence.
Bellerin, Tierney and Holding all played the full ninety Thursday night which sadly means they are unlikely to start again against Palace. The only absentee though is Reiss Nelson who continues to miss out with an injury. Bernd Leno will return to the team after a European break, as will Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who was given the night off altogether in midweek.
Palace come into this one in reasonable form sitting a point (and place) behind the Gunners after wins for City, Chelsea and Leicester this weekend. They are likely to welcome back first choice stopper Vicente Guaita amd have the option of the returning Martin Kelly in defence. Mamadou Sakho and Conor Wickham remain unavailable through injury but Manager Roy Hodgson still has plenty of solid options to choose from. Dangerman Wilfried Zaha will be hungry leaving David Luiz and co will have it all to do come kick off tomorrow.
Expected lineup:
GK: Bernd Leno
RB: Calum Chambers
CB: Sokratis
CB: David Luiz
LB: Sead Kolasinac
CM: Matteo Guendouzi
CM: Granit Xhaka
CAM: Dani Ceballos
RW: Nico Pepe
ST: Alex Lacazette
LW: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Prediction: 2-1 sneaker in Arsenal's favour.
@craigbennett10
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