Arsenal - Crystal Palace
Competition: Premiere League
Match date: Saturday August -16, 2014
Kick Off Time: 11:45 GMT- Swansea
High-flying Arsenal will be looking to build on the Community Shield 3-0 win over Manchester City when they welcome Crystal Palace in their Premier League opener. Arsene Wenger’s men look impressive at the moment, but the Eagles should not be underestimated.
Arsenal finally started to win trophies. After winning the FA Cup title last season, the capital club did remarkably well to lift yet another silverware as they outplayed Manchester City in the Community Shield. The Gunners crushed the Citizens 3-0 and it seems as if Arsene Wenger’s team will look much sharper in the 2014/2015 with the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Mathieu Debuchy, Joel Campbell and Calum Chambers in the squad. Arsenal are desperate to win the Premier League title as it has been nine years since they last won the trophy in the national championship and I believe that the time has come for Arsene Wenger’s men to join the title race. The Gunners welcome Crystal Palace in their opener and seeing that over the years the capital club have turned their Emirates Stadium into a real fortress, home win should be considered this time out.
Lukas Podolski, Mesut Ozil and Per Mertesacker are unlikely to be risked, while Laurent Koscielny is likely to keep his place in the starting line-up despite suffering a knock in Community Shield.
Crystal Palace were regarded as one of the main contenders for the relegation at the start of the 2013/2014 Premier League campaign, but then a “miracle happened”. Tony Pulis was appointed as the team’s new manager and the Eagles suddenly started to produce splendid performances in the English top flight. Even top table sides struggled when facing Crystal Palace and the capital club totally deserved to finish the last season in 11th position in the standings, no less than 12 points clear of bottom three. It has to be noted that Fraizer Campbell has joined the club in the summer transfer window and together with Brede Hangeland he is their biggest reinforcement. Nonetheless, Tony Pulis’ men face an uphill task in their Premier League opener, they face Arsenal in the local derby at the Emirates Arena and I do not believe that the visitors are capable of finding the net against the Gunners as they often struggle on the travels. Arsenal are after their third consecutive clean sheet, speaking of matches against Crystal Palace.
Damian Delaney and Jonathan Williams are likely to miss the Arsenal game with injuries, while Adrian Mariappa has overcome his respective injury.
Probable starting line-up Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Szczesny – Debuchy, Koscielny, Chambers, Gibbs – Arteta, Wilshere – Ramsey, Cazorla, Sanchez – Giroud.
Probable starting line-up Crystal Palace (4-4-2): Speroni - Ward, Hangeland, Dann, Delaney - Puncheon, Jedinak, Ledley, Bolasie - Chamakh, Campbell.
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