Premier League Preview: Arsenal vs Crystal Palace

It’s hard to resist the urge to start this off by playing on the idea of an in-form striker coming to the Emirates, but the transfer-window remains open as I write, and, let’s be honest, Marouane Chamakh, as ever, is still not in-form. As such, let’s not get too cute about the overlap between the transfer-window, our quest for a striker, and Chamakh’s, er, homecoming. He’s shone a bit brighter recently, but not enough to make your correspondent pine for his return.

In more serious news, Crystal Palace’s visit marks the return of one Tony Pulis, who took the reins at Selhurst Park back in November, after we last faced the Eagles. Whether we like it or not, Pulis has taken a newly promoted club that had appeared dead on arrival and dragged it towards something approaching respectability. After winning only two of twelve matches to start the season, manager Ian Holloway left by mutual consent (read as you will). Since Pulis took over, Crystal Palace has won five of eleven Prem matches. Among the losses? A 1-0 loss at the Etihad and a 2-1 loss at Stamford Bridge. You read that right—Crystal Palace held Man City to a single goal at home.

To what—other than Pulis’s trademark doggedness and fearsome commitment to physicality on defense—can we attribute the change? Early in the season under Holloway, Crystal Palace seemed to tinker with formations and lineups, which may have fed an inconsistency and uncertainty among the players on the pitch. Since Pulis’s arrival, they’ve more or less settled into a very traditional 4-4-2, with a stronger emphasis on a defensive pivot to help shield the back four and link to the attack.

It hasn’t shown much on the offensive end, but between that and Pulis’s obsessive focus on defense, it seems to have worked: after shipping 21 goals in their first twelve matches with just one clean sheet, the Eagles have shipped just ten goals in their last eleven, including five clean sheets. Lest you scoff, that run includes those trips to the Etihad and Stamford Bridge. The Pulis name might not yet bring to mind the kind of brute physicality that we used to see at Stoke, but we’ll almost certainly see a stout defense on Sunday. Then again, Tottenham did score twice from open-play against them.

From our end, of course, it almost feels as if we have more pressing issues, what with the Draxler transfer-saga and injuries mounting again. Without Flamini, we’ll at least be spared the relative flatness of the Flamini-Arteta pivot. Playing Rosicky alongside Arteta could very well reinvigorate the “pivot” side of that partnership as Arteta shields our back four while Rosicky forays further upfield. Ahead of them, I’d like to see an all-German attacking midfield of Podolski, Ozil, and Gnabry. When it comes to leading the charge, Giroud looked weary at Southampton but soldiered on. Perhaps Bendtner should get the nod? He’s done well against the other promoted clubs, having scored against Hull and Cardiff. This could be his chance to claim a trifecta—and show Chamakh what it takes to play for Arsenal.

Last 3 meetings

• Crystal Palace 0-2 Arsenal (26.10.2013)
• Arsenal 5-1 Crystal Palace (14.2.2005)
• Crystal Palace 1-1 Arsenal (6.11.2004)

Factfile

• Crystal Palace have scored the fewest away-goals in the Prem (5); Arsenal have conceded the fewest home-goals in the Prem (6).
• Crystal Palace are the only Prem side to visit the Etihad and hold Man City to a single goal.
• Since 1969, the two clubs have played a total of 31 times. Arsenal has dominated the match-up with twenty wins, two losses, and nine draws.

Injuries

In addition to the long-term injuries to Diaby (knee) and Walcott (knee), Ramsey (thigh) will be out another five weeks or so, Flamini will serve the first of a three-match ban after his red card at Southampton, and Wilshere still looks to be unavailable, with Arsene suggesting he could be fit in time to face Liverpool next week. In better news, Rosicky should be available despite his broken nose.

Possible Starting XI

Szczesny, Gibbs, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Jenkinson, Arteta, Rosicky, Podolski, Ozil, Gnabry, Giroud.

This looks to be a stubborn affair, considering Crystal Palace’s new-found commitment to defense and difficulties in scoring. Nonetheless, I see goals from Bendtner and Gnabry either side of halftime.

Goonersphere Prediction

Crystal Palace 0-2 Arsenal