Arsenal vs Crystal Palace: Analysis

This Saturday Arsenal or Crystal Palace who do you fancy?

For the upcoming match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace, Arsenal's recent form and player availability are key factors to consider.

Arsenal's Recent Form and Challenges:

1. Arsenal has won just one of their last seven games in all competitions, showing a dip in form【7†source】.
2. They face a busy schedule ahead with important matches in various competitions, which could affect their focus and performance against Crystal Palace.

Player Availability and Injuries:

1. Gabriel Jesus: Set to return to the squad. This could be a significant boost for Arsenal, as Jesus has been a crucial player for them【8†source】.
2. Oleksandr Zinchenko: There are doubts over his fitness. His potential absence could impact Arsenal's defensive stability【8†source】.
3. Jurrien Timber: Still recovering from an injury and is not expected to return until March【9†source】.
4. Other players like Thomas Partey and Fabio Vieira also remain sidelined, which might affect the team's midfield options.

Considering Arsenal's recent form and injury concerns, they might face challenges against Crystal Palace. However, the return of Gabriel Jesus could provide a much-needed boost in attack. The absence of key players like Zinchenko could impact their defensive and midfield stability.

Prediction: While Arsenal has the home advantage and the potential boost from Jesus' return, their recent form and injury challenges make this match somewhat unpredictable. Crystal Palace could capitalize on Arsenal's vulnerabilities, especially if they exploit the gaps left by absent players.

Given these factors, the match could be closely contested, with a slight edge to Arsenal due to their overall squad strength and the return of key players. However, Crystal Palace has the potential to cause an upset if they effectively exploit Arsenal's current weaknesses.