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Arsenal took a break in Dubai after their exit from the FA Cup at the hands of Liverpool in the third round. Unfortunately, the Gunners find themselves in a challenging situation, having slipped from the top of the Premier League table on Christmas Day to now being at risk of falling out of the top four.
The team's struggles in attack during the winter period have been evident, and manager Mikel Arteta acknowledges that his players need to overcome a mental block when it comes to finishing chances.
Despite pleas from fans to invest in a new striker, it seems unlikely that Arsenal will make any significant signings in January, unless a surprising loan move for Karim Benzema materializes. As they currently sit in fourth place, just ahead of Tottenham Hotspur on goal difference with a game in hand, the pressure is on Arteta and his team to revive their offensive performance.
Arsenal's recent form has been subpar, with only one win in seven matches across all competitions. The team suffered defeats to West Ham United and Fulham, followed by an exit from the FA Cup against Liverpool. The lack of a killer instinct has been evident in their recent performances.
Crystal Palace is also coming off a disappointing result, having lost to Everton in an FA Cup replay. The Eagles, currently in 14th place, aim to secure three points and widen their five-point gap from the relegation zone. Despite a recent win against Brentford, Palace has struggled to keep clean sheets, going nine league matches without shutting out the opposition.
In terms of head-to-head matchups, Palace had a successful record against Arsenal between 2018 and 2022, but the Gunners have won their last three encounters. Notably, a Martin Odegaard penalty was the sole difference in their meeting in August. Both teams will be looking to overcome their recent shortcomings and secure a vital victory in this London derby.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Jurrien Timber, recovering from an ACL injury, brought a sense of relief to Arsenal fans as he was spotted running on the pitches in Dubai and engaging in individual ball work during the winter training camp. However, it's still a while before the Dutchman can be considered for a return to the first team.In terms of injuries and absences, Thomas Partey (thigh) and Fabio Vieira (groin) are not expected back until the next month. Takehiro Tomiyasu and Mohamed Elneny are away on international duty, and there's uncertainty surrounding Oleksandr Zinchenko's (calf) availability.
If Zinchenko can't recover, Jakub Kiwior might get a chance at redemption in the left-back position. On a positive note, Gabriel Jesus seems to have fully recovered from a knee issue that kept him out of the recent loss to Liverpool.
Rob Holding, a former Arsenal defender now at Selhurst Park, will miss the chance for a reunion with his former club due to an ankle problem. Michael Olise, a rumored Arsenal target, remains sidelined with a thigh injury, and there's no set date for his return.
Cheick Doucoure (Achilles) and Joel Ward (thigh) are also in the treatment room, and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (thigh) is working towards a return after missing out on the squad on Wednesday.
Jordan Ayew is unavailable due to commitments in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Interestingly, he and Bukayo Saka have been among the most fouled players in the 2023-24 Premier League, with only Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes having experienced more fouls than them.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Arsenal possible starting lineup:Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Henderson; Clyne, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Eze, Richards, Lerma, Schlupp; Edouard, Mateta
EXPERT PREDICTION
Arsenal 2-1 Crystal Palace
An Arsenal side struggling to find the back of the net couldn't have asked for a better moment to take a breather and regroup after a challenging and ultimately unsuccessful winter phase. The anticipated comeback of Gabriel Jesus is poised to add some much-needed firepower to the home team's attack.
On the flip side, Crystal Palace appears likely to continue facing issues in scoring, especially with Michael Olise sidelined due to injury. Coupled with midweek fatigue working against them, Hodgson's team is expected to come up short as Arsenal revitalizes their pursuit of the title.
