Crystal Palace vs Arsenal

Sam and RG weren't able to do the preview so this will be the preview/matchday thread, everything related to the game goes here, just going to put some info about it and keep it simple.

Arsene Wenger:
“It’s always very intense and it is a very dynamic ground,” the manager said. “It’s a bit like Highbury as an old-fashioned stadium with a soul and it has a crowd that is always behind their team. We expect a passionate afternoon.

“Alan Pardew has done extremely well. They have found confidence again and they made positive results and that is what it is about when you are a manager.”

Wenger also spoke about former Gunner Marouane Chamakh and his transition into midfield (So that's why he's a CAM on FUT )

“He came to Arsenal as a striker and in the first six months he did very well,” he said. "After Robin van Persie came back from injury and he played as more of a sub, he lost confidence. I’m happy that he went to Crystal Palace and has made a good career now.

“He’s not the target man anymore, he’s more a midfielder or second striker and, because he’s a real team player, that position suits him very well.

“I always loved him because of his team attitude. He was a hardworking type of player. In the end he didn’t play and you have to give the players a chance to go somewhere and play."

Alan Pardew talked Palace's chances so far down, they might as well not play if he truly believes his words:

“We’ve had to be impatient because [Yannick] Bolasie, Mile [Jedinak] have been unavailable and Yaya [Sanogo] is obviously going to miss this game.

“We’ve not actually got it all together and I don’t think this weekend we will because we’re not quite there.

“By the time we get to West Ham and Southampton we’re going to be pretty close, hopefully.

“This is a bonus game for us in a way because no one will expect us to get anything outside of Crystal Palace.

“If we can get a point or three points in this game it’ll be a massive boost for us.”

Arsenal recent form
WWLWWWWWL

Crystal Palace recent form
LDWLWWWWD

I could also see Welbeck starting over Theo, maybe Rosicky getting the nod too since we're playing a difficult European fixture mid-week but this is what we might go with.

Injuries:
Jack Wilshere is back and available. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is back in full training but will most likely not feature on Saturday. Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Debuchy and Aaron Ramsey remain out. Hector Bellerin(ankle) and Mathieu Flamini(hamstring) are doubts.


Rivals playing:
Swansea City vs Manchester United
Manchester City vs Newcastle United
Spurs vs West Ham
Southampton vs Liverpool

Let's do this.

MJ you beauty.

Not going to be an easy game this Palace will fancy taking a point or 3. I'd start with Alexis on the Right and Giroud Center. Walcott & Welbeck on the bench for me.

Wenger says Wilshere is fit for Saturday but rather him not feature at all. I'm gonna go with

1-2 Arsenal for this one.

We have dificult mid week game so Jack will feature at some level. Padrew will park the bus like he always does against big teams, one of the reasons I want Welbz starting over Theo, the rest of the team I'm ok with it.

Great Work MJ.

facing teams who are struggling to avoid relegation is not easy and I think we will struggle against them.

1-2 Arsenal for this one.


you arsehole...... dont give predictions.....

allin13 wrote:1-2 Arsenal for this one.


you arsehole...... dont give predictions.....

With Frantic's blessing, Pardiola will work his magic and then it's kali nichta Arsenal.

allin13 wrote:1-2 Arsenal for this one.


you arsehole...... dont give predictions.....

I don't know what kind of forum you've come from but

1) you can't go to other sections on GL and troll(deleted your posts from the united section)
2) you can't go about calling other people 'arseholes'. Do that in private if you are that close with him.

RG.

Crystal Palace 1-3 Arsenal.

Twoism wrote:Pardew will park the bus like he always does against big teams.

Are you implying he doesn't against every team

MJ

Watched pardew's palace for the first time last week. Wow, he has no gameplan other than lump it forward and hope for the best.

We really should beat him but I won't be surprised if they manage to score one or two if they get lucky with the long balls.

Thanks lads

Bellerin, Jack and Gnabry trained with first team, as Sam noted on Twitter.

Still wouldn't be surprised if Chambers starts as Bellerin could be a bit short and we could be in for a long, physical, long-ballish day.

Hope Jack is on the bench.

Great work MJ. Thanks for filling it at the last minute.

This will be a tough game, as it always is away in London derbies. We need to respond quickly from our last away game (spurs) and continue the form we showed at home to Middlesbrough.

We have a fantastic opportunity to end the weekend in the top four.

Confirmed team:

Ospina; Chambers, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin; Welbeck, Cazorla, Ozil, Alexis; Giroud

Subs: Szczesny, Gabriel, Gibbs, Bellerin, Wilshere, Rosicky, Walcott

Palace:

Speroni; Ward, Delaney, Dann, Souare; Zaha, Mutch, Ledley, Puncheon; Gayle, Campbell

Think it'd be good for Welbeck to get on the scoresheet today ...

Wilshere is back

The way Palace hoofing, this will be a real test for Ospina

They are pressing hard

lol we are struggling

They have two speedy wings, fullbacks need some help

Looks like our away game plan is sit deep and counter, the same from City game even against lesser side like Palace

Welbz was our best player