Match Preview: Arsenal vs Crystal Palace

After dropping two crucial points against Southampton, Arsenal host Crystal Palace on Sunday in a match nothing less than 3 points would be welcomed by the gunners.

With the league leaders Manchester City not playing today, it’s a great opportunity for the North London side to get back to the top and put pressure on the other rivals.

Injury And Team News

Rosicky is back

Arsenal’s new signing Kim Kallstrom is out for the game with a back injury. Aaron Ramsey is out for another 5 weeks at-least. Mathieu Flamini will miss next 3 games due to a red card he got against Saints. Thomas Rosicky who is completely fit from a nose injury is back in the squad and he is expected to partner with Arteta in the middle of the park. Gibbs will replace Monreal who struggled against Southampton.

Tony Pulis does not have any injury worries but Thomas, Dikgacoi (both calf), and Murray (knee) are expected to miss the game.

Probable starting lineups:

Arsenal: Szczesny; Sagna, Gibbs, Mertesacker, Koscielny; Arteta, Gnabry, Thomas Rosicky, Ozil, Cazorla; Giroud

Crystal Palace: Speroni; Mariappa, Ward, Gabbidon, Delaney; Moxey, Bolasie, Jedinak, Puncheon; Jerome, Chamakh

Match Facts:

Arsenal have won 14 and lost just one of their last 20 Barclays Premier League games at the Emirates.
Crystal Palace have scored just five goals away from home in the Barclays Premier League, fewer than any other team and never more than once in a single match.
The Gunners have kept six clean sheets in their last seven Premier League games on home soil.
Arsenal have won five and lost none of the last eight meetings with Palace in all competitions.
The Gunners average 1.84 points per game in Premier League London derbies and Palace 0.90 per match. These are the best and worst points returns respectively of any capital clubs.

Recent form

Arsenal: WWWWWD

Crystal Palace: DWLWLW

Prediction

Mostly, it will be a straight forward victory for the gunners in their home unless Chamakh & co produce a miracle performance.

Arsenal 3 Palace 0