It is not quite win or bust for Arsenal at Selhurst Park tonight, but after Liverpool, Man City, Tottenham Chelsea and even the draw specialists Man United won at the weekend you would have to say that the Gunners really need all three points tonight.
Our opponents have just hit a rocky patch in their recent return to form and with a huge injury list their manager Sam Allardyce would surely be happy with anything from tonight´s game, but that also adds to the pressure on the Gunners to come out firing and carry on the improvement we have seen lately.
With all this in mind it appears that even more focus than usual will be on the creative, attacking and scoring side of Arsenal´s game, with the Eagles likely to sit back and soak up the pressure while hoping for a breakaway goal. With Arsene Wenger having to do without the first and second choice keepers as well as our best defender Laurent Koscielny, this probably suits Arsenal as well.
The home team´s forward options are okay, though, and in form and with Cabaye a surprise inclusion after major doubts on his fitness I think we need to be careful and not too gung ho this evening. and with Coquelin on the bench the central midfield of Xhaka and Elneny must be disciplined as well as effective.
Martinez
Bellerin, Mustafi, Gabriel, Monreal
Elneny, Xhaka
Walcott, Ozil, Alexis
Welbeck
Subs: Macey, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Coquelin, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chaberlain, Giroud.
Come on Arsenal, we need this.
Bob.