TODAYS EPL MATCH PREVIEW............. ARSENAL VS CRYSTAL PALACE.................5:00PM For Arsenal, the next three weeks will be a huge test of the character in which Arsene Wenger has such faith. The managers immediate priority must be to ensure that his players focus is firmly on Palace and not on the tests against Manchester United, Liverpool (twice) and Bayern Munich to come in the space of 17 hectic days. Arsenal would love to address the first of those challenges (Liverpool away) from a position on top of the Premier League, but to do that they must beat Palace and then wait on the outcome of Mondays Manchester City versus Chelsea clash. Palace may be relegation threatened but they are certainly no mugs. Tony Pulis has instilled some of his trademark organisation on a squad which looked to be out of its depth when he took over in November. MATCH FACTS Head-to-head Arsenal are looking to complete a first league double over the Eagles since the inaugural Premier League season of 1992-93. Palaces only league win in 14 trips to Arsenal (D6, L7) came 20 years ago, John Salako scoring twice in a 2-1 victory in October 1994. Arsenal Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 10 games in all competitions at the Emirates, including seven in the Premier League. The last side to beat them were Chelsea in the League Cup at the end of October. Arsene Wengers side have not conceded a goal at the Emirates in 456 minutes in all competitions since Gerard Deulofeus equaliser for Everton in a 1-1 draw on 8 December. The six league goals conceded by Arsenal at home this season is the lowest in the Premier League. Half of that tally came in the Gunners 3-1 opening day defeat by Aston Villa. No player has scored the first goal of a Premier League match on more occasions this season than Olivier Giroud (six). The Gunners have failed to score a first-half goal in six of their last seven league matches. Their 2-1 win at Aston Villa was the exception. Crystal Palace Crystal Palace have taken 16 points from a possible 33 since Tony Pulis took charge at the end of November (W5, D1, L5). Palace have lost four of their last five away matches, and not scored in three of them. Their sole victory during this period came at Aston Villa on Boxing Day. Crystal Palace have scored just five away goals in this seasons Premier League, fewer than any other team. The Eagles have failed to score in 11 league games, and scored more than once on only two occasions this campaign. Jason Puncheon has scored the last three goals for the Eagles. ODDS: ARSENAL: 1.22 DRAW: 5.46 CRYSTAL PALACE: 10.11 NaijaBet
Posted on: Sun, 02 Feb 2014 13:44:28 +0000
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