So this weeks View From The Enemy comes from the official Crystal Palace website ahead of Arsenal’s visit this evening. The good news is that Palace have only beaten Arsenal 4 times in 41 meetings. The bad news is that Arsenal haven’t any London derby this year!
Preview: Crystal Palace v Arsenal
Roy Hodgson’s side return to Selhurst Park after picking up four points on the road and in the process set their own Premier League record of going eight games unbeaten.
After the Boxing Day fixtures the side still remain outside the bottom three ahead of tonight’s game against Arsenal with memories still fresh in supporters minds of the 3-0 victory recorded in this fixture by Palace in April earlier this year.
Arsenal Sitting In Sixth Place
Since their victory against Tottenham last month Arsene Wenger’s side have only lost one of their next six top flight games but come into this game having won just two on the road this season.
The Gunners currently sit in sixth and four points off fourth place as the push for the top places at the right end of the table will be as competitive as ever in the second half of the season.
Leading marksman for the north London side is Alexandre Lacazette with eight goals ahead of Alexis Sánchez with five to his name in the top flight this term.
View From The Opposition
Arsene Wenger on Palace’s recent form
“They were a bit unlucky at the start. They had many injuries. If you look at their team, they have quality players. Roy Hodgson has experience of the Premier League, so I am not surprised.”
Team News
Crystal Palace: Hodgson has Christian Benteke back for selection following his one match suspension and Joel Ward looks likely to once again miss out with a groin injury.
Arsenal: Defender Nacho Monreal picked up a ankle injury in the draw with Liverpool and is doubtful for the game.
Forward Olivier Giroud and midfielder Aaron Ramsey are still missing with hamstring problems whilst Santi Cazorla has an ankle injury.
Matchday Officials
Michael Oliver has taken charge of 20 games this season, including Champions League matches and a World Cup qualifier. He has shown 81 yellow cards and dismissed five players in those matches.
The last Eagles game he took charge of was the recent 0-0 draw at West Bromwich Albion whilst it was back in November at Manchester City that he last was in the middle for an Arsenal match.
Referee: Michael Oliver
Assistants: Simon Bennett, Daniel Cook
Fourth official: Graham Scott
Matchday Stats
Palace are unbeaten in their last six home league games (W3, D3) and have scored two goals in each game.
Palace are on an eight-match unbeaten run (W3, D5) – their longest top-flight run since a 12-match stretch in October 1990.
The Gunners have kept a clean sheet in all three of their Premier League London derbies this season and can go four London derbies without conceding for the first time since February 1999.
Arsenal have only won two Premier League away games this season – their joint-fewest tally after nine away games of a campaign in the Premier League era
Arsenal haven’t won any of their five Premier League London derbies away from the Emirates in 2017 (W0 D2 L3) and have failed to score in the last four of these.
Head To Head
Palace wins – Draws – Arsenal wins
League 3….. 9…….. 22
FA Cup 0…. 1……… 2
League Cup 1.. 1 …….. 2
Total 4 ….. 11 ……. 26