Arsenal vs Crystal Palace (16/17)

Team news:
Arsenal: Shkodran Mustafi is fit again after a hamstring strain and Danny Welbeck could be considered for a first appearance of the season having returned to training from a long-term knee injury. Theo Walcott (calf) and Kieran Gibbs (knee) will likely miss out, with Arsene Wenger also revealing that a few of his Arsenal players are suffering from flu.

Crystal Palace: Crystal Palace defender Damien Delaney is suspended but James McArthur, Joe Ledley (both knocks) and James Tomkins (groin) have an outside chance of being fit. Loic Remy is back in full training but will not yet be considered, while long term-absentees Connor Wickham, Steve Mandanda, Jonathan Benteke (all knee) and Pape Souare (thigh) remain out.





THE OPPOSITION
Crystal Palace have endured a difficult 2016/17 so far, but their away performances have been better than their displays at Selhurst Park, and they have the personnel to frustrate their opponents. Arsenal are likely to encounter a deep, well-organised Palace side who make it difficult to play through balls in behind.

FORMATION
Palace have lined up in 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 formations this season, and against Manchester United played 4-4-2 with Wilfried Zaha up front. That left Michael Carrick free in midfield to dictate play, and Sam Allardyce favoured a more solid-looking 4-2-3-1 in the draw at Watford. It will be interesting to see if he employs the same approach at the Emirates.

In midfield, Alan Pardew tended to use three players. While former Gunner Mathieu Flamini started Allardyce's first game in charge at Watford on Boxing Day, he had previously lost out to a combination of James McArthur, Joe Ledley and Yohan Cabaye. The most talented of the trio is clearly Cabaye, who can be used either as a deep-lying playmaker or in a No 10 position, but McArthur and Ledley are both intelligent tactically and capable of providing clever passes. Ledley is calm and reliable in possession, while McArthur's newfound ability to storm forward into goalscoring positions is very useful - he's contributed five goals this season, already his best-ever Premier League return.

STRENGTHS
Palace's attack is based almost entirely around record signing Christian Benteke, who is winning nine aerial battles per game - by far the best rate in the Premier League. Although the Belgian was considered underwhelming at Liverpool, his minutes-per-goal ratio was always very good, and he's thriving in a side that plays with two outright wingers, rather than a team who were about quick passing combinations and aggressive pressing from the front.

However, in the 1-0 defeat to Chelsea on December 17 it was notable that while Benteke won plenty of aerial battles - largely by placing himself up against Cesar Azpilicueta - the wingers offered him little close support and generally stayed wide. Nevertheless, they're perfectly capable of servicing him with crosses.

DANGERMAN
Wilfried Zaha has been excellent this season - only Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne has provided more Premier League assists - although Andros Townsend
has been less consistent and has a frustrating tendency to shoot rather than cross. Lee Chung-Yong might be favoured on the left because he can play a good defensive role against Hector Bellerin, while Jason Puncheon is another option and tucks inside more.

AREAS TO TARGET
Palace's defensive record this season is surprisingly poor. Scott Dann and Damien Delaney have often defended well in open play - although the latter is suspended for this game - while full backs Joel Ward and Martin Kelly tuck in narrow, protecting the centre backs closely.

But under Alan Pardew, they showed a complete inability to cope with set-piece deliveries. In an astonishing 5-4 loss at Swansea last month, Palace conceded no fewer than four goals from set pieces, and shipped another in the recent 2-1 defeat to Manchester United. Arsenal aren't generally renowned for their set-piece threat, but this is clearly the Eagles’ major weakness.

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20161228/scouting-report-arsenal-v-palace

Xhaka-Ramsey in midfield please.


Mustafi is back so hopefully we can get back to playing a bit better from the back.

No Walcott so expecting Giroud upfront again. But something tells me Lucas Perez might start.

wtf. Lucas, Giroud and Sanchez together?

No Ozil?

Xhaka-ElNeny?

Ozil is ill.

Wenger confirmed Iwobi will play no. 10. Lucas on the right, Alexis on the left.

yeah Ozil has the flu, with Ox our only traditional winger coming back from injury that line up is the closest to what we would usually field to be honest. Let's hope Xhaka and El Nenny have a good game in midfield or else this could be a long afternoon.

On top so far, surely a matter of time before someone pubs one

Lucas right foot is line non existent, expect no crosses from the from him

What a finish by Giroud, the guy started and finished that move

Now we need to kill the game off, with the players Crystal palace have they only need one moment to come back

That was insane by Giroud

Come on, Crystal palace are begging to be put to the swords here. Why aren't we going for the kill ? !!

Do we have issues with killing games or something, any other top teams would have put at least 3 past Palace in that first half. It's like we are waiting for Palace to equalise or something

Özil

"Ill"

on New Years Day

using the word "sick" would at least cover the situation somewhat

Happy new years guys

On the game Lucas low ky made some very good runs, he needs a goal though

Well what can I say.

Last year was your year

Twoism wrote:Happy new years guys

On the game Lucas low ky made some very good runs, he needs a goal though

I thought he had a good game, linked up well with others and made very good game. Apart from his lack of right foot, it was an encouraging performance.