Arsenal Team News: Arsenal will face Crystal Palace in their weekday clash of Premier League 2023/24. The Gunners faced them earlier in March when they thrashed the Eagles 4-1 at Emirates. They completed a league double over Crystal Palace as they also defeated them 2-0 in an away game. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace showed good intent in the home game and they beat Arsenal in April last year 3-0 which was Arsenal’s first loss to Palace since 2019. It should be a quality contest as both sides are looking to secure the top spot in the table.
Arsenal should be proud of their performance in the first two games of the season. They ended the drought for the trophy after winning the Community Shield against Man City. In the season opener, Mikel Arteta’s side defeated Nottingham Forest 2-1. Eddie Nketiah and Bykayo Saka delivered the early 2-0 lead in the first half. Forest tried to pull off the comeback with Awoniyi’s 82nd strike but it wasn’t enough. Three points in the first game give a positive sign ahead of the London derby.
Arsenal Team News
Arsenal showed great numbers in away games last season, taking clean sheets in 10 matches on the road including a win over Crystal Palace in November 2022. They remained unbeaten in London derbies as they won 10 out of 12 games and 2 games ended in a draw. League double against Paddy McCarthy’s Crystal Palace pushed their chances for another win at Selhurst Park.
Mikel Arteta is dealing with injuries in the first month of the league and it can hurt Arsenal’s process when they face top sides. Summer signing Jurrien Timber is not ready to play for the Gunners for few months and Arsenal started the process to find a backup for the Dutchman. The former Ajax man sustained a devastating anterior cruciate ligament rupture and this injury takes time to recover.
The good news is Oleksandr Zinchenko is likely to make a return from the calf issue. He can help boost the defence. Another injury concern is Gabriel Jesus who misses out again due to a knee injury. Eddie Nketiah will be his deputy who scored in the previous game. The Englishman did a great job when he replaced Jesus in winter last season.
Arsenal will wait for the recovery updates from Folarin Balogun, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Mohamed Elneny. The trip is not ready to feature in the away trip to Selhurst Park. Mikel Arteta will put Aaron Ramsdale as first-choice goalkeeper. On-loan Brentford goalkeeper David Raya is yet to make a debut. He could be tried later in the competition.
Arsenal XI
Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Partey; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli
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