Crystal Palace host Arsenal to start off a huge Sunday in the BPL.
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The Gunners didn’t enjoy the first weekend of the new season quite as much. However, West Ham proved to be the better team on the day and Arsenal lost the excitement and spark for the season ahead.
Arsene Wenger’s boys were surprised by an inspired West Ham United squad right at their own Emirates Stadium last week as they dropped their opener, 0-2, against the Irons, as reported by Sports Illustrated.
“So it is a very important game for Arsenal, and it is vital they do not lose”.
However, Wenger also confirmed that while Danny Welbeck is making “good progress” on his recovery from a knee injury that has been plaguing him since April, the attacker is still going to be short for Sunday’s trip to Selhurst Park.
Crystal Palace haven’t beaten Arsenal for 21 years. With three points on the board already, they will have some nerves lifted and will look to enjoy the occasion against the Gunners. The Eagles have taken a few big-name scalps over the past two seasons in the Premier League, and in fact have only failed to beat five teams since returning to the top flight in 2013.
Julian Speroni, Fraizer Campbell, Kwesi Appiah and Marouane Chamakh are all ruled out for Palace so Alex McCarthy should keep his place in goal.
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Inactives for Arsenal are Jack Wilshere & Tomas Rosicky while Danny Welbeck is close to being in full fitness. Alexis Sanchez should start, while Wenger has a big choice to make up front as Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud battle for the lone striking role. It was the sort of win an experienced mid-table Premier League side would churn out, and hopefully it shows that this Palace squad is ready to cement the club’s position as an established top-flight side and finally rid that tag as plucky, yo-yo underdogs. They have lost every game against the Gunners since February 2005. Norwich forward Cameron Jerome thought he had tied the game at 2-2, but the goal was ruled out, as per BBC Sport. Expect him to be influential in midfield in his home debut.
