Crystal Palace v Arsenal preview: Gunners aim to bounce back
Sunday 16 August 2015 13:47, UK
Arsenal will be out to prove their shock opening-day home defeat to West Ham was no more than a false start to their title challenge when they travel to Crystal Palace on Super Sunday.
With more expectancy surrounding Arsene Wenger's side than for some time, the anticipation that had steadily built up during pre-season fell flat at a stunned Emirates Stadium last weekend as Slaven Bilic masterminded a 2-0 victory for the Hammers.
Not since the very first Premier League campaign in 1992/93 have Arsenal started a season with back-to-back defeats and it's Alan Pardew's Palace, fresh from three points at Norwich last weekend, who will be aiming to inflict that on the Gunners at Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon, live on Sky Sports 1.
Live Ford Super Sunday
Wenger's side, however, have won all four encounters since Palace were promoted back to the Premier League two seasons ago and the Eagles have historically struggled against the Gunners - their last victory over them in any competition came in a 2-1 win at Highbury 21 years ago.
Team news
Young right-back Hector Bellerin is back in the Arsenal squad after missing the defeat to West Ham, while Alexis Sanchez, who came off the bench last weekend, is in contention to start after stepping up his training following his delayed start to pre-season.
Jack Wilshere remains on the sidelines after suffering a hairline fracture of his left fibula, but Arsene Wenger has said the Englishman’s recovery is on schedule. Tomas Rosicky has undergone knee surgery and faces several months out and Danny Welbeck (knee) also remains unavailable.
Palace boss Alan Pardew has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the Arsenal game, with Alex McCarthy expected to continue in goal while Julian Speroni is still out with a finger injury.
Former Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh is unlikely to feature as he is still recovering from a hamstring problem.
Stats
Crystal Palace have been beaten in each of their last five Premier League encounters with Arsenal.
Arsenal’s victories last season in this fixture both came by a 2-1 scoreline, with a goal in the 45th minute both times.
No player has more Premier League assists in 2015 than Santi Cazorla (8).
Arsenal have won 16/18 points in their last six Premier League away games (W5 D1).
Arsenal won 20 points from 10 Premier League London derbies last season (W6 D2 L2).
Merson's prediction
Arsenal have got to come out fighting. They can't lose two on the trot, not the way the league is and how good the teams are now. Palace are a phenomenal football team on the break, as good as anyone with their pace, and I think it is a good time to play the Gunners.
But I'm going with Arsenal because it's a must, must-win game, even this early in the season. They need to score first at Selhurst Park, just to quieten the crowd. Arsenal's class should see them through.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-3 (12/1 with Sky Bet)
Betting
Arsenal are marginally odds-on at 7/10 to bounce back from their opening-weekend defeat, with Crystal Palace 15/4 to build on their impressive start. Arsene Wenger’s men were pushed out from 4/1 to 9/2 for the Premier League title following their Hammers loss, while the Eagles were cut to 11/10 for a top-half finish after leaving Carrow Road with three points.
Olivier Giroud is the 4/1 favourite in the first goalscorer betting followed by Theo Walcott and Alexis Sanchez (both 9/2), while Connor Wickham is considered the hosts’ biggest threat at 8/1.
Watch Crystal Palace v Arsenal live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 12.30pm on Sunday. Not a subscriber? Get a Sky Sports pass from NOW TV.
