Arsenal to start with a bang at Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace and Arsenal would seek bright starts to the league campaign at the Selhurst Park on Friday but fans would relish the restart after the long break. (Photo credit: BT Sports)

Crystal Palace vs Arsenal
Selhurst Park
8:00pm

The premier league is back and we can’t wait to scream, jump for joy, endure days of pains and in unison, celebrate every win. Welcome to the first prediction post of the 2022/2023 season and it’s straight up between Crystal Palace and Arsenal.

This isn’t a fixture Arsenal fans enjoyed in the past few seasons with the last one being one of those that ruined the Gunners’ top-four hopes.

The Eagles beat Arsenal 3-0 with Jean Mateta, Andre Ayew and Odsonne Edouard all finding the net.

Arsenal fans can be hopeful ahead of the new Premier League season after some good reinforcements in the summer.

Gabriel Jesus joined from Manchester City as well as Alex Zinchenko who is available to shore things up for Arsenal in the absence of Kieran Tierney.

Arsenal also welcomed back William Saliba from his successful loan spell at Olympique Marseille and could also see the trio of Takehiro Tomiyasu. Tierney and Fabio Vieira – who joined from Porto in the summer on the bench.

Palace won’t have the luxury of Connor Gallagher as the Chelsea loanee has retuned to his parent club and Michael Olise is also out for a few weeks.

But Patrick Vieira, himself a former Arsenal great will compete at home against a team he didn’t lose to last season over two legs.

Arsenal lost the league opener at Brentford last season but the North Londoners have good records on the opening day of a league season.

Palace lost at Chelsea on the opening day last season but surged into rhythm after few games under the French manager.

How will Arsenal line up?

Arsenal will be able to field Thomas Partey after the rumoured sexual assault case and he will obviously partner Granit Xhaka in the middle of the park.

Martin Odegaard is Arsenal’s new captain and he will be rearing to go.

Bukayo Saka will be on the right as expected while Gabriel Martinelli is expected to nail the left wing, Arsenal will look to bring in another winger before the window closes.

Mikel Arteta will hope to have a good start this season after enduring Arsenal’s worst ever start to a Premier league season last term.

Crystal Palace will be conservative and seek to hit Arsenal on the break.

It will be a great opportunity to test a few things and considering the fact that you now have up to five subs in the Premier League now, expect a lot of strange developments.

Wilfred Zaha is the man to look out for on the hosts’ side, he has points to prove and he will relish an opportunity to run at the Gunners’ defence.

But it would be fun to see how the Palace midfield line up without Cheikh Kouyate and McArthur.

Verdict: Arsenal to win

Patrick Vieira said Arsenal will be “completely different” on their return to Selhurst Park after losing 3-0 to Crystal Palace in 2021/22.

🗣 “We can be even more competitive than we were last year. The game tomorrow will be important for us to start as well as we can." #CPFC
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) August 4, 2022

💬 "We are with a level of energy and ambition to have a successful season and we have to show that on the pitch tomorrow night."

▪️ The challenge of Crystal Palace
▪️ Expectations this season
▪️ The transfer window

🗞 Read every word from the boss' press conference 👇#CRYARS
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 4, 2022