The 2022–23 Premier League season opens with a London rivalry on Friday night with Crystal Palace vs Arsenal at Selhurst Park, much like it did last year.
Only a few months ago, Patrick Vieira’s team destroyed the Gunners 3-0 in this matchup, but Mikel Arteta has worked hard this summer to address the holes in his Gunners XI.
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal Match preview
Patrick Vieira slammed the Emirates ground in anger after his team conceded two points in a 2-2 draw with Arsenal last season, taking four out of a possible six points against his previous team, before watching his team dominate the Gunners in April.
Former Invincibles captain Vieira received a nomination for the manager of the season after guiding the Eagles to a 12th-place finish and the FA Cup semifinals last year. At Selhurst Park, optimism is high under the Frenchman.
Conor Gallagher’s return to Chelsea was a cruel disappointment, but Cheick Doucoure and Malcolm Ebiowei are prepared to make an impact in the English capital, and Vieira’s team ended preseason on a mostly good note.
The Eagles approach this match with consecutive victories against Queens Park Rangers and Montpellier HSC in friendly matches. Liverpool and Manchester United were the only teams to defeat them during the exhibition season.
Palace, who went undefeated in their last six home games last season and miraculously managed to keep clean sheets in each of their last five games—no small feat considering Arsenal, Man United, and Manchester City all appeared on that list—is starting the season at Selhurst Park.
When their All Or Nothing Amazon Prime documentary is released, fans will soon be able to see what happened at Arsenal during the 2021–22 season, including that dismal match for Mikel Arteta at Selhurst Park.
While the Gunners’ return to international play in the Europa League was a triumph, their late-season collapse allowed Tottenham Hotspur to come in and claim the fourth and last Champions League spot, leaving them feeling bitterly disappointed.
However, if the preseason performance of Arsenal is any indication, the Gunners will be a force to be reckoned with come the start of the new campaign. Chelsea, who lost 4-0 to their London rivals in Orlando before thrashing Sevilla by six goals in the Emirates Cup, will be a team to watch.
One of two high-profile transfers from Manchester City this summer, along with Oleksandr Zinchenko’s reunion with Arteta in North London, is Gabriel Jesus, who scored a hat-trick on that particular day. However, the Gunners manager has cautioned both players and fans not to get too excited about preseason results.
For the third consecutive year, Arsenal will kick off their new campaign with a London derby. The Gunners cruised to a 3-0 victory at Fulham in 2020, but Brentford came back to defeat the Cottagers 2-1.
Team News
Sam Johnstone, a recent addition to Crystal Palace’s goalkeeping ranks, is nursing a quadriceps injury and is expected to miss the season’s first match, while Jack Butland is out with a fractured hand.
On Friday, Vicente Guaita will likely serve as the last line of defense for the home team as James McArthur, Michael Olise, and James Tomkins are all anticipated to miss out due to injuries to their groins and ankles, respectively.
Doucoure’s chances of making his first competitive start for the Eagles are only increased by McArthur’s absence, although a front three of Jordan Ayew, Wilfried Zaha, and Odsonne Edouard might start again today.
Emile Smith Rowe’s groin strain is apparently expected to keep him out of action, but there are other injured players at Arsenal, including Fabio Vieira, Kieran Tierney, and Takehiro Tomiyasu, who have all had minor preseason problems but could still make the team.
Ben White might very easily return to his responsibilities at right-back, allowing William Saliba to finally make his competitive debut with Gabriel Magalhaes in the center of defense. It would be surprising if any member of the trio make the starting lineup on Friday.
Jesus and Zinchenko are also expected to play, and Martin Odegaard, who has been named the new captain of Arsenal, will start in the number 10 position.
Probable Line Up
Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Guaita; Clyne, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Schlupp, Doucoure, Eze; Ayew, Edouard, Zaha.
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Xhaka, Partey; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Jesus.
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal Prediction
Conor Gallagher and Nuno Tavares, for example, played major roles in Palace’s 3-0 victory against Arsenal last season; neither player is involved in this match, so Arteta will be hoping for a very different matchup on Friday.
Palace will undoubtedly be extremely confident after their performances against Arsenal last season and their string of home clean sheets, but the Gunners have changed drastically in preseason and have significantly increased their pressing game, which should help them start their Premier League season on a winning note.
We go with Crystal Palace 1-2 Arsenal
