Arsenal v Crystal Palace: Premier League match preview

A look ahead to this weekend’s Premier League fixture at The Emirates

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger (right) converses with newly appointed fitness coach Shad Forsythe during the pre-season training (GETTY IMAGES)

Optimism abounds in the red half of North London after Arsenal’s hefty summer investments. Talk of a title challenge is afoot – but the Gunners must get off to a good start for that chatter to begin to look like reality.

Arsenal will monopolise the ball, looking to give marquee summer signing Alexis Sanchez as many opportunities as possible to run at managerless Crystal Palace back four. Palace may struggle outside of the raucous environment of Selhurst Park – the Emirates cavern has traditionally been a graveyard for smaller teams looking for surprise results.

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 5.30pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Arsenal 2 (Oxlade-Chamberlain 2) Crystal Palace 0, Premier League, February 2014

Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 2 (Arteta, Giroud), Premier League, October 2013

Arsenal 5 (Bergkamp, Reyes, Henry 2, Vieira) Crystal Palace 1 (Andy Johnson), Premier League, February 2005

STATS…

2 wins in 28 matches for Crystal Palace against Arsenal

1 dismissal dating back to 1969/70 – Mikel Arteta’s at Selhurst Park in 2013/14

1994 The last time Crystal Palace beat Arsenal away from home

4 Place for Arsenal in the 1979/80 First Division – the only other season during which Palace beat them

ODDS…

Arsenal to win: 1.25

Crystal Palace to win: 12.0

Draw: 5.8

TV: Live on Sky Sports 1 at 5.30pm, highlights on BBC1 at 10.30pm