Match Preview: Arsenal v Crystal Palace; Looking to get back to the top.

For the first time in a while, Arsenal spent more than a day out of the top position on the Premier League table. The abject first half combined with the final result and City’s drubbing of Tottenham, was just enough for the negative element of supporters to gain full voice again.

Beating Crystal Palace at the Emirates this Sunday would carry the Gunners back to the top of the table. Should Chelsea pull off a draw or win against City, it would likely keep us there. So much is the ever changing dynamic of this season’s Premier League season.

The good thing about having such a diverse fan base that there are enough practical supporters out there that the highs and lows of a season are relatively balanced out by rationale sane opinion. Thank goodness because the gross overreaction to the draw was one where you’d have thought we suddenly were relegated.

It’s good to know that Southampton as disjointed as they may have seemed heading into the match are a good team that has made it hard for many of the top teams visiting St. Mary’s like Manchester City – whom they also drew with. The fact is, we weren’t going win every one.

The bad thing about the draw is it almost makes the upcoming matches against Chelsea and City must wins if Arsenal want to create some space at the top and have a chance of winning the title. The other issue with the draw against Southampton was that its fair to say that Arsene’s lineup got it wrong, lineup got it wrong. The Arteta/Flamini pairing in the middle of the pitch doesn’t work. Save for Napoli, I am not sure of one other instance where it has been effective. Even worse is that it seemed Flamini went more advanced most of the time, instead of Arteta.

We won’t have that issue for a while as Flamini serves his first game ban for the straight red he saw against Sou’ton.  That really means that Wenger now has some choices to make in the midfield. Wilshere is still struggling with his often targeted ankle, Ramsey will be out for another 6-8 weeks with a thigh injury and Rosicky is still recovering from his broken nose.

That means either new boy Kallstrom comes in (I think unlikely) or someone likes Oxlade-Chamberlain comes in deeper and either Cazorla goes to the right, which would bring in Podolski on the left – a formation I prefer and think would be very lethal for Arsenal. The other option is Cazorla stays on the left and Gnabry comes in on the right.

As prodigious a talent as Gnabry is, I am not in favor of his continual starting. Simply because as good as he is, he is still an unfinished article and the desire to put more on his shoulders than is necessary would lead to unfair criticism of a player who should be spending more time bossing the U21s.

Crystal Palace come into Arsenal helmed by one of our favorite and by favorite I mean absolutely detested managers – Tony Pulis. Pulis actually took the helm the weekend we first met Palace but wasn’t able to do anything to offset their 2-0 loss at home.  Pulis is now tasked with keeping Palace in the Premier League. Something he was very good at doing at Stoke. Problem is that beyond survival, there is very little else he brings to the team.

Arsenal should be prepared to see a team park the bus and look for their chances on a counter attack. They’ll line up as a 4-4-1-1 or 4-4-2 depending on your world view. The last team that played 4-4-2 against Arsenal was Spurs and in the FA Cup, Arsenal over ran them.

The thing is Pulis will look to block all of the channels by keeping his charges behind the ball. Some pundits have been vocal about Arsenal slightly falling off in the goal production. However, I see especially at home a methodical approach to the way they play.

For the most part Wenger knows lesser teams are coming into the Emirates and putting everything they have behind the ball. Arsenal try quickly to get an early goal. If they get it, it opens the pitch up and Arsenal can play their game. If it doesn’t come quickly, Arsenal revert to a patient, methodical approach to trying open and exploit gaps in the defensive structure of their opponents. Through passing and passing and even more passing the goal is to tire out the opponent and force mistakes for us to exploit.

Arsenal seem content on getting two goals. It’s weird but once they get there – especially if they do it within the second half, they go into close down mode. Not to say they don’t chase the third goal but they will switch to trying and doing it via the counter rather than attack. It’s gamble and its paid off for the most part especially against the lesser teams.

The 2 goals conceded against Southampton are the second most we’ve conceded since losing to Manchester City and Aston Villa in the opener. Outside of those 3 league matches Arsenal are consistently keeping clean sheets or allowing an opponent to get one goal.

Palace on the road have only scored 5 goals this season. Led by Maraoune Chamakh (remember him?) they really haven’t been a road force. However, it’s another match we shouldn’t look beyond. The prolific scoring City only managed to put one past this Palace squad. Arsenal will need to make sure that they do not come out as flat as they did in the midweek.

This match has importance on so many levels but the biggest is because winning these matches is essential for maintaining their title charge. Especially in light of the Chelsea v City match on Monday.

Probable Lineups:

Injuries & suspensions:
Arsenal: Walcott (knee)  Diaby (knee),  Wilshere (ankle), Ramsey (thigh) Flamini (suspended – 3)

Crystal Palace: Thomas (calf), Dikgacoi (calf), Murray (knee).

Match Official:
Referee: Jonathon Moss (Matches: 13. R2 Y47 PK 6)
Assistants: Kirkup, Perry
Fourth Official: East

Head to Head Stats:

Broadcast Information:
US: NBC Sports Network: 11:00 AM EST

UK:  Sky Sports 1: 16.00 GMT

YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 2

Crystal Palace 0

Match Facts (courtesy FourFourTwo)

• Arsenal have won 14 and lost just one of their last 20 Barclays Premier League games at the Emirates.
• Crystal Palace have scored just five goals away from home in the Barclays Premier League, fewer than any other team and never more than once in a single match.
• Arsenal have had Under 2.5 goals in their last seven home matches
• The Gunners have kept six clean sheets in their last seven Premier League games on home soil.
• Arsenal have won five and lost none of the last eight meetings with Palace in all competitions.
• Arsenal have had 2-0 scorelines in their last five home wins
• The Gunners average 1.84 points per game in Premier League London derbies and Palace 0.90 per match. These are the best and worst points returns respectively of any capital clubs.
• Arsenal have drawn 99 Premier League games at home in Premier League history.
• C Palace have conceded first in their last four away matches against top-six teams
• Crystal Palace head into this matchday in 14th place having scored only 15 goals; the fewest of any side in the Premier League this season so far.
• Seven different Arsenal players have scored headed goals this season, more than at any other club.
• Arsenal have had draw/draw results in their last four home draws
• Arsenal have won 12 and drawn two of their last 14 Premier League games in February.
• No player has scored the first goal of a Premier League game on more occasions than Olivier Giroud this season (6).