Arsenal v Crystal Palace: team news and match preview. Saturday, August 16, 2014 Emirates Stadium Kick-off: 17.30 BST. TV: Live Sky Sports 1, Highlights, BBC ONE Match of the Day. Starting XIs Arsenal (Possible, 4-1-4-1): Szczesny; Debuchy, Chambers, Koscielny, Gibbs; Arteta; Sánchez, Ramsey, Wilshere, Cazorla; Sanogo. Out: Gnabry (knee), Ospina (thigh), Mertesacker, Özil, Podolski (all match fitness), Miyaichi (hamstring, Walcott (knee). Test: Koscielny (Achilles). Palace (Possible, 4-4-2): Speroni; Kelly, Dann, Hangeland, Ward; Bolasie, Jedinak, Ledley, Puncheon; Chamakh, Campbell. Tests: Mariappa (ribs), Delaney, Williams (both unspecified). Referee: Jonathan Moss. Matches (last season): 26, R3 Y72. Betting: Home 2-7, Away 9-1, Draw 9-2. Team News Arsenal hope to have defender Laurent Koscielny fit following a minor Achilles problem for the Premier League opener against Crystal Palace on Saturday. Midfielder Abou Diaby has recovered match fitness and should be in the squad, but German World Cup winning trio Lukas Podolski, Mesut Ozil and Per Mertesacker will be given more time after their late return to pre-season training. Colombia Goalkeeper David Ospina is still recovering from a thigh injury, while midfielders Theo Walcott and Serge Gnabry continue their rehabilitation from respective knee problems. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace caretaker manager Keith Millen will select the side at Arsenal on Saturday following the shock departure of Tony Pulis. Millen also faced the Gunners in his first game in temporary charge in October after Ian Holloway had left the club but he was unable to prevent Palace losing 2-0. Defender Adrian Mariappa is expected to be available after shaking off a rib injury while new signings Martin Kelly, Brede Hangeland and Fraizer Campbell could all feature. Match Notes This has been Arsenal’s best transfer winder for a decade and, following the departure of Tony Pulis, perhaps the most chaotic and dysfunctional at Crystal Palace. There is a tiny possibility of the sudden upheaval at Palace galvanising the players in some unexpected way. More likely, what small chance they had of frustrating Arsenal has evaporated and minimising the damage is the only realistic target today. Stat of the game: Arsenal are unbeaten in their last seven league games against Palace, winning five. Jeremy Wilsons prediction: Arsenal 4 Crystal Palace 0.
Posted on: Fri, 15 Aug 2014 21:20:38 +0000