A tumultuous draw away to West Ham United saw Arsenal’s faint title hopes fade ever further, as Andy Carroll’s hat-trick compounded with Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City’s resounding wins meant Arsenal are now 13 points off the top, as they welcome a resurgent Crystal Palace to the Emirates Stadium this weekend.
19th in the 2016 league table, the Palace of a couple of weeks ago would have provided a chance for Arsenal’s attackers to brush up their stats, but five points in Palace’s last three games has provided welcome relief for Alan Pardew instead. Arsenal, meanwhile, are still in relatively good form, and can only consider last week’s result as an anomaly. Even so, Alex Iwobi continued his fine form, while Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez got on the scoresheet, and it would be irresponsible to dismiss Arsenal’s equaliser when West Ham were on the ascent.
Palace, unfortunately, possess much the same as West Ham – fast wingers who love to cross, and a big target man in the form of Emmanuel Adebayor or /Connor Wickham. Arsenal must look to double up on the wide men in order to prevent the crosses, an aspect Alexis and Ozil were guilty of neglecting last week. I’m not alone in thinking some changes would be needed; Petr Cech, naturally, in for David Ospina, but I also think giving Nacho Monreal a break would be for the best. Kieran Gibbs has looked good in the games he has come in, and the Spaniard’s form has been patchy of late.
One player Arsenal need to watch is Jason Puncheon. A fantastic playmaker, he bossed the game against Everton on Wednesday and scored the winner the game before. A mix of guile, physicality and finishing, he is another that the Coqneny (Elquin?) partnership need to latch onto.
Arsenal’s most dangerous player looks like Iwobi. Two goals and three assists in his last three games reflects a dazzling talent in fantastic form – and Wenger’s placement of him in the centre of midfield reflects his maturity.
Match facts
– The reverse fixture saw Arsenal picking up their first points of the season in a 2-1 win.
– Scott Dann, Palace’s centre back, is their joint top scorer.
– Ozil has not registered a league assist since the game at Old Trafford.
Team news
– No fresh injuries from Upton Park, and positive news as Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky came through their under-21s game. Santi Cazorla and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain should return to full training next week.
– Connor Wickham and Adebayor are both ready to start after substitute appearances against Everton, but Saturday may be too soon for James Macarthur.
Predicted XI
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Cech; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Elneny; Iwobi, Ozil, Alexis; Welbeck
Crystal Palace (4-2-3-1): Hennessey; Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare; Cabaye, Jedinak; Zaha, Puncheon, Bolasie; Wickham
