After Wenger’s side faced a thrilling 3-3 draw at West Ham United last week, despite taking an early convincing lead by 2-0, they kept on conceding but it was Laurent Koscielny, who rescued a point for the gunners. A disastrous show of aerial defense which was widely exposed and exploited by the England international striker Andy Carroll, will sure be a point to think about for Arsene, when Arsenal face Crystal Palace this game-week.
Arsenal can even be 19 points down to the top of the Premier League table Leicester City and indeed down to the fourth position if they lose to Crystal Palace this Sunday afternoon. Leicester City, the leaders and fourth-place Manchester City both will play their matches before Arsenal this weekend and the Gunners must take home another three points against Palace to seal their spot in the UEFA Champions League.
Team News
Conceding thrice in the 3-3 draw against West Ham might see David Ospina being axed from the starting line-up and Petr Cech might get another chance to prove his worth, while Aaron Ramsey is out injured.
Wenger will hopefully play Alex Iwobi and Danny Welbeck in the final third, however, he may leave Olivier Giroud. But Giroud is expected to be on the bench.
Claiming ‘wanted to see more’ Pardew made his intentions and expectations clear from his players and the team in whole, both Yannick Bolasie and Wilfried Zaha are expected to be given a start in the final third.
Emmanuel Adebayor and Connor Wickham are both back but yet to get to their top fitness level being played only one match after their injury return that too coming from the bench, will make Pardew play Dwight Gayle as the starting centre-forward.
Elsewhere, Mile Jedinak is expected to keep Joe Ledley out as Pardew once again prepares to play a 4-3-3 formation.
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Cech; Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal; Elneny, Coquelin; Iwobi, Ozil, Sanchez; Welbeck
Palace possible starting lineup:
Hennessey; Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare; Puncheon, Jedinak, Cabaye; Bolasie, Gayle, Zaha
Key facts and Battles:
Olivier Giroud, the french striker who has not scored in his last 11 premier league appearances. But Giroud is expected to be on the bench. Apart from that Arsenal have won two of their last five home league games. They must win a home league London derby this season as they are yet to win one. Alex Iwobi has registered two goals and two assists in his first three premier league starts.
Jason Puncheon’s first goal of the season last weekend gave Palace their first league win in 15 matches since 19 December.
With Former Arsenal forward Emmanuel Adebayor scoring on two of his last three appearances as a visiting player at the Emirates Stadium, Crystal Palace look strong having kept two back to back clean sheets, after having gone 12 league games without one. They are yet to win in their last seven away league games.
Betting Odds and Predictions:
Arsenal are the favourites for the match, priced at 1/3, whilst Palace are long shots at 10/1. The draw is 9/2.
This season, Palace have taken fewer points in London derbies than any of the clubs from England and they were beaten 2-1 at home by Arsenal in the last match earlier this season. Prediction is a 2-0 Arsenal win this time.