Team news
Arsenal (Arsenal FC)
Gabriel Martinelli is the only injury concern for Mikel Arteta as the Brazilian will need a few days before returning to full training after picking up an ankle injury in the warm-up to the Newcastle clash last week.
Gabriel and Thomas Partey are both available.
Crystal Palace (BBC)
Centre-back Mamadou Sakho is set to sit out this clash with a thigh strain. Gary Cahill could replace him in the line-up as he's fully recovered following a hamstring problem.
Possible lineups
Arsenal
As Martinelli is injured, this front trio looks the most reliable of all options the manager has with Smith Rowe playing as a no. 10.
However, there are two major selection calls. Will the boss keep Mari ahead of Gabriel and will Partey gets a spot in the XI after a lengthy spell on the sidelines?
We believe this is the squad Arteta is set to field against the Eagles.
Crystal Palace (Sports Mole)
Stats to know (BBC)
Head-to-head
- Arsenal are winless in the past four Premier League meetings, though three were drawn.
- Palace have only won five of the 47 meetings in all competitions but are unbeaten on their last two trips to the Emirates (W1, D1).
- The Gunners have scored in all 20 home league meetings.
Arsenal
- Arsenal have won four successive matches in all competitions by an aggregate scoreline of 10-1.
- They could earn four Premier League victories in a row for the first time since October 2018.
- The Gunners have scored eight goals in their past three league matches, more than in their previous 12.
- Mikel Arteta's side could set an outright club Premier League record of 12 consecutive home matches without a clean sheet.
- Bukayo Saka could become the first teenager to score or set up a goal in four straight Premier League games since Cesc Fabregas of Arsenal in April 2007.
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored three goals and also been sent off in his four league appearances against Palace.
Crystal Palace
- Palace have only won one of their past seven matches in all competitions, conceding 14 times.
- They kept their first Premier League clean sheet since the opening game of the season against Sheffield United last time out.
- The Eagles have only kept three clean sheets in 26 Premier League games since football resumed after the coronavirus suspension.
- Wilfried Zaha has been directly involved in 10 of Palace's 22 league goals this season, scoring eight and providing two assists.
- Luka Milivojevic has scored five goals in six Premier League appearances against Arsenal.
- Roy Hodgson has only won three of his 18 Premier League matches against the Gunners.
Premier League form (last 6 fixtures)
Arsenal: LDLWWW
Crystal Palace: DDLLDW
Predictions
Mark Lawrenson (BBC): 2-0
"Arsenal cannot stop winning now - they needed extra time to beat Newcastle in the FA Cup on Saturday but that is four wins in a row in all competitions.
"In contrast, Crystal Palace are not on a great run - their win over Sheffield United on 2 January is their only success in their past seven games.
"But, for many reasons, I don't think they need to worry about being dragged into the relegation fight - chiefly their manager Roy Hodgson and their exciting front three."
Michael Owen (BetVictor): 2-1
"Arsenal seem to be growing in confidence. They notched up their fourth win in a row at the weekend with an extra-time win in the FA Cup against Newcastle. The mood certainly seems better at the Emirates and I’d expect them to keep improving.
"Palace are still too inconsistent for me. They have only won once in their last seven matches and that came against a struggling Sheffield United.
"With the positive vibes now back at the Emirates, I think the home side will continue on their upward curve and take the points."
Managers' quotes
Mikel Arteta on Palace (Arsenal FC)
"They are a really dangerous side and they have shown that against big teams. They are a really compact and organised team and you know what you're going to expect.
"They have players with a big individual talent that just need moments to win games, to create actions that can unbalance the game so we have to be very careful with that.
"Then, we have to play to be dominant again in the game. We go from the first minute to try to win the game, to attack them and be cautious as well of the strengths that they have and try to control them as much as possible."
Roy Hodgson on Arsenal (Crystal Palace FC)
"I never really expected them to do anything but recover from the unfortunate start they had.
"Looking at the squad, the way Mikel Arteta works with them, the way they play, their principles, the quality of the club and staff, I never expected anything other than them coming back to the Arsenal we know and expect them to be.
"It’s not surprising and doesn’t need to be put down to anything other than working hard, not allowing confidence to be dented by a bad run and always believing a good spell would come. For us, it’s unfortunate we meet them in the middle of it."
