Sanchez Set To Make League Debut Against Palace

Written by Jon Shay on 14 August 2014. Posted in 1886 Previews

Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace Match Preview – Premier League 16.08.14

At long last, the Premier League season is upon us. Even after a summer otherwise filled by the World Cup, a trip to New York, the Emirates Cup, and the Community Shield, it’s been hard to get as excited for any of those matches as I am for this one. Sure, it’s “only” Crystal Palace, who are likely thrilled to stay up in the Premier League for more than a single season. Then again, we know full-well what happens when you downgrade your opening-day opponent…

Under Tony Pulis, Palace surged out of the drop-zone after languishing in it through most of the first half of the season. Inspired perhaps by a victory over none other than Stoke, the Eagles would go on to win take 28 points from the final 51 available, including a win at Goodison Park, a home-win over Chelsea, and a home-draw with Liverpool, good enough to finish 11th, their best-ever Premier League finish. There's something else to this formerly Pulis-led side; unlike Pulis's Potters, Palace do more than simply maul and maim. They actually play a bit of football. There's still a bound to be a bit of the Pulis-brand of pugnacity even after he and Palace parted ways. Last season, Palace scored only 33 goals (third-worst in the Premier) but conceded only 48 (sixth-best). In other words, the idea that Saturday's match will be a walk in the park might be a bit misbegotten even if we did defeat this squad twice by parallel 2-0 scorelines.

Even while our summer has been filled with a regular repast of reinforcements, Palace has largely demurred, settling for a modest hodge-podge of free transfers and loans both in and out. With Pulis's departure, due in large part to his frustration over a perceived lack of ambition, it's anyone's guess what kind of mood Palace will be in. Key to that mindset might be Australian Mile Jedinak, who is the heart and soul of the Palace squad. He stands in stark contrast to our defensive midfield, literally and figuratively. At 189cm, he towers over Arteta (178cm) and Flamini (176cm). He also dominates the midfield, offering physicality and tenacity in a way that we've longed for for most of the summer, if not longer. He may embody Pulis's ideal player, blending just a bit of actual footballing with that grit. Whether we can run and pass our way around him and the rest of that stingy Palace back-line will be key to controlling and winning the match.

Up top, of course, we'll once again we reunited with an old friend in Marouane Chamakh, he of the bizarre coif. Whatever aerial threat he might pose might be a bit more threatening, what with the absences of Mertesacker (confirmed) and Koscielny (rumored), leaving us to play Chambers at centre-back alongside Monreal or someone like Bellerin. We'll find out when Arsène meets the press.

In any case, it would be nice to get the season off to a strong start, especially after finishing only seven points behind Man City last season. Three points are available, and three points should be seized. With Palace likely in dispirited disarray, we might see Alexis running rampant, eviscerating Jedinak and his mates along the way.

LAST 3

Arsenal 2-0 Crystal Palace (02.02.2014)
Crystal Palace 0-2 Arsenal (26.08.2013)
Arsenal 5-1 Crystal Palace (14.02.2005)

FACTFILE

Arsenal are undefeated in their last 18 home games.
Crystal Palace have not defeated Arsenal since October 1994—nine matches ago.
Arsenal's record against Crystal Palace is 12 wins, 1 loss, 3 draws.

INJURIES

Serge Gnabry, Theo Walcott, Ryo Miyaichi, Mesut Özil, Lukas Podolski, and Per Mertesacker will all miss the match. David Ospina and Laurent Koscielny face late fitness tests.

POSSIBLE STARTING XI (4-3-3)

Szczesny; Gibbs, Koscielny, Chambers, Debuchy; Wilshere, Arteta, Ramsey; Cazorla, Giroud, Alexis.

This one will be more-nervy than last weekend's clash with Man City, and Palace will be stubborn, but a more powerful, fluid and confident Arsenal will be too much to handle.