After two back to back losses to Everton and Manchester City away from home, the Gunners needed a last minute goal from Olivier Giroud to take all three points from their previous game in the Premier League. Arsene Wenger, will not be happy with his team’s performances in the last few games and will hope that they can get back to their best ahead of the second half of the season. But they will first have to face Sam Allardyce’s new venture Crystal Palace in a mini-derby in the last game of the year. Palace are fresh from a draw in their manager’s first game at the club this season and they will hope to put in a similar performance and will be happy with a point from this game against the Gunners. Here is the preview of this game, along with the team news, predicted lineups, predictions and betting odds.
The league game between Arsenal and Crystal Palace will be played on Sunday, the 1st of January, at the Emirates in London. The kickoff is scheduled at 4:00 pm BST (9:30 pm IST)
Team News:
The Gunners are still without the likes of Santi Cazorla, Per Mertesacker, Oxlade Chamberlain, Mathieu Debuchy and Chuba Akpom for this game. English duo Theo Walcott and Kieran Gibbs are both ruled out for this game with injuries while Shkodran Mustafi is expected to play a role in this game against Palace. Danny Welbeck is also back in training and may even get a place on the bench in this game.
Expected Lineup (4-2-3-1):
Cech; Bellerin, Koscielny, Gabriel, Monreal; Coquelin, Ramsey; Iwobi, Ozil, Sanchez; Giroud
Crystal Palace will miss the likes of Connor Wickham, Bakary Sako, Pape Souare and Steve Mandanda for this game against Arsenal. Damien Delaney is out suspended while James Tomkins, James McArthur and Joe Ledley are all back fit for this game.
Expected Lineup (4-2-3-1)
Hennessey; Kelly, Dann, Fryers, Ward; Cabaye, Flamini; Townsend, Puncheon, Zaha; Benteke
Key Battles:
Olivier Giroud vs Scott Dann:
Though not the first choice striker for Wenger, Giroud, is now the most frequent goal scorer for Arsenal this season and with injuries to key players, Wenger will look to the Frenchman to start this game. Giroud will be up against Scott Dann, who has been struggling this season and this will be a battle that can effect the turnout of the game.
Christian Benteke vs Laurent Koscielny:
The top goal scorer for Crystal Palace, Benteke, is the biggest threat for Arsenal in this game as the Belgian has the ability to thrive in a team that plays to his strengths. So Koscielny, the back bone of Arsenal’s defense will have to stay tight and give him not space or time on the ball to keep him away from the goal. Surely, it is a battle worth the wait.
Key Stats:
Arsenal have won eight of their last 11 Premier League games against Crystal Palace, drawing the other three.
Crystal Palace’s only Premier League win against Arsenal came in October 1994 at Highbury, as John Salako scored twice in a 2-1 victory.
This will be the 200th Premier League game contested at the Emirates – Arsenal have won 129, drawn 47 and lost 23 of the 199 currently played there.
Palace have won just one of their last seven league games away from home on New Year’s Day, beating Portsmouth in 1996 (D1 L5).
By contrast, Arsenal haven’t lost a home league game on New Year’s Day since 1985 against Tottenham (W6 D2)
Giroud has three Premier League goals against the Eagles, but all of those have been scored at Selhurst Park.
Indeed, Allardyce’s sides at Emirates have conceded 26 goals – the most by an opposing manager there in the Premier League.
Betting Odds:
Arsenal: 1/3
Draw: 17/4
Crystal Palace: 15/2
Predictions:
The Gunners are one of the most exciting teams in the Premier League this season but injures have hit the squad hard, leaving Wenger with a weakened squad. However, they have enough firepower to get over a Crystal Palace side that is struggling at the bottom of the table. Playing at home, Arsenal are favorites to take all three points from this game.
Our Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Crystal Palace