Arsenal will aim to defeat Crystal Palace twice inside a week when they meet each other this weekend at Selhurst Park.
Crystal Palace staged an inspiring fight versus Arsenal midweek in the Carabao Cup as a five-goal thriller saw them go out of the competition. Despite taking an early lead through Jean-Philippe Mateta and doubling their tally with Eddie Nketiah’s 85th-minute goal, Gabriel Jesus’s hat-trick helped The Gunners storm to victory. Oliver Glasner’s men are four points clear of the relegation zone but a negative result this weekend could send them straight into the dropzone dogfight. Palace have a fully fit squad available and they will hope to make their cross-city rivals sweat again.
Arsenal come into this match with the psychological advantage of defeating the same opponents earlier in the week. Jesus have possibly earned himself a starting place in the line-up for this weekend with his match-winning hat trick. However, Mikel Arteta will not be celebrating the win as he is aware of the vigour Crystal Palace can emerge with in their own backyard. Declan Rice was rested for the midweek clash and he is set to start against The Eagles. Arsenal have drawn their last two Premier League outings and a third stalemate would put them a long way away from challenging for the title.
Crystal Palace v Arsenal Predicted XIs
Crystal Palace (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Chalobah, Lacroix, Guehi; Clyne, Hughes, Doucoure, Mitchell; Sarr, Eze; Mateta
Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.
Trambak Bhattacherjee | Get Football
