Arsenal would want to continue the 2023-2024 Premier League campaign on a high note by beating Crystal Palace on Monday night.
At 8 p.m. on Monday, August 21, Crystal Palace will be at Selhurst Park with the hope that they can run away with at least a point against their visiting London neighbours.
Just like the Gunners, Palace recorded a slim win last weekend as they defeated Sheffield United 1-0 away at Bramall Lane. While Arsenal recorded a 2-1 win over their visitors, Nottingham Forest last weekend.
This means that both Palace and Arsenal are highly motivated going into the game. The fact that Palace who struggled to escape relegation last season could give a very good account of themselves without two of their most important players, Wilfried Zaha and Michael Olise has given football enthusiasts more reasons to look forward to Monday’s game.
Note that Zaha has moved to Süper Lig club Galatasaray this summer. While Olise who is referred to as an assist king at Palace is still battling to recover from an injury.
All things being equal, the game is expected to swing in the direction of the visitors at the end of the night but Palace won’t go down without a spirited fight.
Arsenal Vs Crystal Palace: Team News
The good news for Palace supporters is that Olise has decided to stay at Selhurst Park for the foreseeable future. But he is still suffering from a serious thigh injury.
The debut of Matheus Franca has been postponed because of a lower back problem. Will Hughes, who sustained a knee injury in the preseason, is still healing and might require a few more weeks to fully recover. Marc Guehi will be fine for the Monday game after leaving the game against Sheffield United with a cramp.
On the other hand, Arsenal’s new signing, Jurrien Timber who suffered a horrific anterior cruciate ligament tear last weekend, will be sidelined for several months.
Gabriel Jesus (knee) won’t be available for Monday’s London derby. Also, Folarin Balogun (ankle), Albert Sambi Lokonga (muscle), and Mohamed Elneny (knee) are big doubts going into the game.
The good news is that Oleksandr Zinchenko is close to making a timely comeback from a calf issue and Mikel Arteta might throw him into the starting lineup on Monday.
Crystal Palace Probable Lineup:
Johnstone; Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Doucoure, Lerma; Ayew, Eze, Schlupp; Edouard
Arsenal Probable Lineup:
Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Partey; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli
Prediction: Arsenal have a 61 percent possibility of beating Crystal Palace away from home on Monday. But it is expected to be a slim 2-1 victory.
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