CRYSTAL PALACE VS ARSENAL: PREVIEW
- Bobby Vincent
- Oct 27, 2018
- 2 min read
Crystal Palace host a red-hot Arsenal side at Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon, as the Gunners look for 11 consecutive wins.
Arsenal made it 10 wins in a row as they beat Leicester City 3-1 on Monday night, with Mesut Ozil the star of the show at the Emirates Stadium.
Crystal Palace lost late on at Everton 2-0, after missing a second-half penalty to waste a great opportunity for a vital three points.
TEAM NEWS:
Crystal Palace duo Max Meyer and Alexander Sorloth are available for selection after missing out of last weekend's defeat with a virus.
Christian Benteke and Joel Ward are long-term absentees for Palace and they're both still sidelined.
Arsenal are expected to make numerous changes from their Europa League win in Portugal on Thursday night.
Sead Kolasinac and Nacho Monreal are both doubts with hamstring injuries, but Petr Cech is available again.
MANAGER'S COMMENTS:
Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson believes his team should have more points than what they currently have due to their strong performances.
"We've played a lot better this season than we did at the start of last," Hodgson said. "We lost some games heavily last time, which we deserved to, whereas this season we have lost some that we deserved something from.
"Arsenal are playing extremely well. I don't see any particular weaknesses, so we must make sure we work hard to minimise their opportunities. There are no secrets, it's about what we do on the field."
Arsenal manager Unai Emery still thinks his side can improve a lot despite their terrific form in recent games.
"I think the first thing we spoke about when I arrived here was to improve our competitiveness, both individually and collectively as a team. We are doing that," the Arsenal manager said.
"When we started with the losses in the first two matches, maybe a lot of people were thinking it could be a difficult way for the club this season. Now, when we are winning, maybe the same people are thinking we are on the way to arrive in the top four.
"We aren't the best team now, and when we lost we weren't the worst team. We're a good team who need to improve a lot of things and take more confidence, responsibility and ambition to improve."
STATS:
- Crystal Palace have lost nine of their last 11 Premier League games against the Gunners.
- Palace could equal the top-flight record of five consecutive home matches without scoring from the start of the season.
- If Arsenal win at Selhurst Park, it will be the first time they've won that many games on the bounce since October 2007.
- Arsenal have scored a league-topping 12 away goals this season.
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been involved in 21 goals in 22 Premier League games, scoring 16 and setting up five.
BETTING ODDS:
Crystal Palace: 18/5
Draw: 16/5
Arsenal: 3/4
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