Ten games remain between now and the end of the season with Arsenal chasing a top-four place. They have won six of their last seven Premier League matches and will be hoping to add another to the list with a trip to Crystal Palace on Monday evening.
Palace has been a difficult place for Arsenal to travel to. The Gunners earned their first victory at Selhurst Park since 2017 last season but required two very late goals from Nicolas Pepe and Gabriel Martinelli to secure it.
Arsenal have developed a habit of turning the tide on their trickier opponents. Those with good records against the Gunners have found it far more challenging and often come out on the end of a defeat instead. Arsenal won at Aston Villa, Wolves, Leicester City and Burnley in the league, places where difficult results had been experienced in the recent past.
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Mikel Arteta will be hoping for another repeat of this form and could be boosted after some issues for Patrick Viera’s side during the international break emerged. Starman Wilfried Zaha suffered a hamstring injury whilst with Ivory Coast and was unavailable for the match on Tuesday against England.
“After the first game [against France] he felt some pain behind in the hamstring. Because we flew the following day after France and because he is [plays] here it was easier for him to get an X-ray [here],” said manager Patrice Beaumelle.
“He had a grade one or two injury and because of the schedule of Crystal Palace, I understand the busy schedule, we don't have to take any risks because if it gets worse it is maybe six weeks or two months for out.”
Meanwhile, Michael Olise also withdrew from the France Under-21 squad due to inflammation in his foot. The Palace attacking midfielder was unable to train after discomfort in his left foot forced him to withdraw according to The Athletic.
No timeline was given for either player’s injury and with the precautions taken for both players, it is feasible that the pair could still play against Arsenal. However, with Palace having a FA Cup semi-final to consider, perhaps they will want to avoid risking two of their best performers.
Even without these players though, Palace remain a threat. Eberechi Eze, Odsonne Edouard and Jean-Philippe Mateta have all performed solidly.
However, Arsenal will take all the benefits they can. In a season whereby they have lost players like Granit Xhaka and Takehiro Tomiyasu for extended periods, the Gunners have had to deal with their own pressures.
The African Cup of Nations claimed four of Arsenal’s squad, although Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was at the time not part of first-team plans. However, Arsenal still suffered without a number of options being eliminated from the FA Cup and losing in the League Cup semi-final.
Mikel Arteta will know that whoever lines up against his side on Monday will still be a challenge, especially with Invincible Patrick Vieira at the helm. With games against West Ham, Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United to come, this is a must-win game and points must not be dropped.
