Key events
5 min: Lewis-Skelly cuts in from the left and is again fouled by Hughes. No whistle this time. No matter, though, because Lerma comes across to complete the job. A free kick and a chance for the set-piece kings of the Premier League to load the box and cause some mayhem.
4 min: Now it’s Palace’s turn to have a wee go of the ball. Both teams sizing each other up.
3 min: Arsenal stroke it around the back for a bit, establishing some early authority.
2 min: Sarr pings a pass down the inside-right channel for Mateta, and things look promising for Palace. But then the whistle goes, because Hughes was judged to have fouled Lewis-Skelly in the build-up. A slightly soft free kick, but to be fair Palace don’t really complain.
Arsenal get into their pre-match huddle … then realise their captain and keeper aren’t in it. Odegaard and Raya eventually deign to turn up, the group hug is completed, and the visitors then kick off.
The teams are out! Festive cheer ringing out around Selhurst Park … but then it’s always agreeably noisy at one of the most atmospheric stadiums in the land. The home side sport their red and blue stripes, while Arsenal are in third-choice turquoise. It won’t be long now.
Pre-match postbag o’pessimism. “As a firm believer in the process, I wish it looked more like a clever ploy to have three left-sided defenders on the bench rather than having still a quite badly balanced squad five years in. Does Arteta have the same obsession with versatile full-backs that Wenger developed with micro skill-imps? And will it lead to his downfall when Zinchenko becomes our first choice no9?” – Paul Curievici
“Just showed that picture of Odegaard to my little brother, who said he looked like Captain America. And yeah, that seems to fit his description pretty well. He basically is our Captain America. Now all we need is a decent striker” = Kieran McKintosh
“I know that this meant to be the season of good cheer, but your preamble made me reflect on how true it is that on certain days, whatever happens, one still ends up far from the golden ticket. Indeed, on many days. Perhaps for the unlucky among us, on all days. I suppose the positive side of that is that it teaches us not to expect too much of life – like, perhaps, Gabriel Jesus scoring again” – Charles Antaki
Oliver Glasner talks to Sky. “We analysed the game [against Arsenal on Wednesday] … the quality of Arsenal … they always have the same patterns … Odegaard came on at half-time and most of their chances came from their right side … overloading … great passes … we have made one or two adjustments … we have to be more brave in possession … when you have just 20 percent possession the pressure increases and it is just a question of time when they find the pocket and the gaps … this happened in the second half … we need to have the ball and have them run after us … hopefully we do it better than at the Emirates … we were not fit enough at the beginning of the season … different reasons … we were struggling … but everyone stayed calm and players worked hard … we are still not at the end of where we want to be.”
Mikel Arteta speaks to Sky Sports. “We didn’t start in the right way [against Palace on Wednesday] conceding a sloppy goal … hopefully today will be very different … they are a really tough opponent … very well organised … we are fully prepared for it … the way [Gabriel Jesus] scored his goals, the confidence he brought to the team, he deserves to play again … [Declan Rice] has only had one training session … we lost [Raheem Sterling] yesterday, he felt something in training … we want to win our game and wait [for leaders Liverpool to play] but we have to win first.”
All of the earlier games in the Premier League have now finished …
… and Nottingham Forest’s win at Brentford means Arsenal start tonight’s game in fourth place. A draw will be enough to take the Gunners back into third, which is as high as they can go this evening. Crystal Palace will end the day where they began, in 15th place, whatever happens.
Crystal Palace make three changes in the wake of the League Cup meeting between these clubs; Arsenal make seven. But Carabao teams are not real teams, so let’s do this properly.
Palace make three changes to the starting XI named for last weekend’s 3-1 win at Brighton. Nathaniel Clyne, Daichi Kamada and Chris Richards are in. Trevoh Chalobah drops to the bench, while the suspended Daniel Muñoz and injured Eberechi Eze miss out altogether.
Arsenal make two changes from the side that began the goalless draw with Everton. Thomas Partey and Gabriel Jesus are back; Mikel Merino and Declan Rice are on the bench.
The teams
Crystal Palace: Henderson, Lacroix, Richards, Guehi, Clyne, Hughes, Lerma, Mitchell, Sarr, Kamada, Mateta.
Subs: Turner, Ward, Nketiah, Schlupp, Chalobah, Doucoure, Devenny, Kporha, Agbinone.
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Odegaard, Partey, Havertz, Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Martinelli.
Subs: Neto, Tierney, Kiwior, Trossard, Jorginho, Merino, Calafiori, Rice, Nwaneri.
Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire).
VAR: Michael Salisbury.
Preamble
If recent history between these two teams is anything to go by, this should be a shoo-in for Arsenal: the Gunners have won their last five matches against Crystal Palace, to the cumulative tune of 15-4, the most recent victory coming a mere three days ago in the League Cup. But nothing’s ever that simple, is it? Arsenal have dropped points in their last two Premier League matches, while Palace look to have rediscovered the form that closed out last season: they’re unbeaten in five in the League, and gave Arsenal a good game in that aforementioned League Cup tie earlier in the week. So this is set up nicely. Will Arsenal make up ground in the title race? Or can Palace snap their losing sequence in this London derby? We’ll find out soon enough. Kick-off is at 5.30pm GMT. It’s on!
