Premier League: Can the Gunners Shoot Down the Eagles on Day One?

Crystal Palace vs Arsenal

The waiting is finally over. The pre-season is complete and the return of top flight football is just two days away.

The English Premier League elite are ready and raring to go and the season opens up with a London derby to set the pulses racing. The Gunners will take the short trip from North to South London, where former Arsenal playing legend Patrick Vieira will lead the Eagles into battle again with an impressive debut season under his belt. 

The Premier League 2022 betting odds reckon Mikel Arteta’s side will have too much for the Eagles, but things don’t always turn out as expected on the opening day of the campaign. So let’s take a closer look at the two teams and try to work out how this Selhurst Park clash will pan out.   

Talking Points 

Jesus and Zinchenko to make their Arsenal debuts

Arsenal’s North London rivals Tottenham are widely tipped to challenge for a top-four place and maybe even the title, which is particularly galling for Gunners fans who watched their side capitulate at the death of the 2021/22 campaign to let the Whites in for the final Champions League spot.

But the Arsenal faithful will be delighted how the club has responded with a strong pre-season and three excellent signings to boost their 2022/23 hopes. Striker Gabriel Jesus signed from Manchester City for a fee of £45m and he was joined by Porto attacking midfielder Fabio Vieira. But maybe the smartest bit of business was the £32m capture of Manchester City utility man Oleksandr Zinchenko. Arteta’s relationship with Pep Guardiola may have helped smooth the deal but the addition of the Ukraine talisman will add that extra composure on the pitch.

The Gunners will be without attacking midfielder Emile Smith-Rowe, who struggled for fitness during pre-season with a groin injury. Friday’s curtain-raiser might be too early for his return and that could open the door for Vieira too to take his bow.    

Who can take the weight off Zaha?

Palace made an unexpectedly strong start under Vieria last term and the Eagles’ coach was highly praised for his faith in young players, and the confidence he gave them to express themselves.

But there is no doubt which player the Arsenal defenders will be most wary of, and that’s 29-year-old Ivorian winger Wilfried Zaha. He scored 15 goals in all competitions, 14 in the Premier League and, while Palace have shaken off the image of a ‘one man team’, Zaha remains crucial to their chances of building on last season.

Zaha will play a big role in supporting his manager to bring on the young players while providing Premier League 2022 highlights on the pitch, but he can no longer do it all on his own.

The signing of Cheick Doucoure from Ligue 1 side Lens is an exciting move. The 22-year-old Mali international played 34 times in the French top flight last season and became a key figure in the deepest position of a midfield three. He is comfortable on the ball and with good vision, but his talents lie in breaking up play and launching attacks rather than creating chances.

The return of Conor Gallagher to Chelsea is a loss and that means more attention will be on 20-year-old Michael Olise. The young French star had a breakout season last term on the right side of midfield where he likes to operate between the halfway line and the penalty area. He is quick-footed with an impressive turn of pace, able to keep the ball in tight spaces and play the killer ball.

Olise looks the most likely apprentice to Zaha but Vieira will also look to Eberechi Eze, the breakout star of 2020/21, and another dangerous attacking midfielder, while former Leicester City winger Jeff Schlupp remains a class act.

History

The Gunners have won half of the 24 head-to-head results over the past three decades, while the Eagles have won four and there have been eight draws.

Last season Vieira damaged his former club’s top-four hopes when Palace beat Arsenal 3-0 at their April meeting at Selhurst Park.

Arsenal have had an impressive pre-season with five wins, scoring 20 goals and conceding four, including a 4-0 drubbing of London rivals Chelsea.

Meanwhile Palace have won two, drawn one and lost two in pre-season but they are unbeaten in the last three. 

Betting Tip 

At SBOTOP odds of 1.77 to win the Gunners will be hopeful of avoiding the fate they suffered when they met Brentford on the opening day of last season and lost 2-0.  

Palace are at 4.07 to win and the draw is at 3.50, and with Liverpool, Aston Villa and Manchester City to come the hosts will be keen to take something from this game. 

I’m backing Arsenal’s attacking line-up to produce goals, but I’m not ruling out a high scoring draw. 

 

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