‘They’re loosing this time around,mark my word’ – Chris Sutton & Paul Merson predict who will win Arsenal v Palace clash on Monday
Arsenal return to action on Monday with a trip to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace, and they will be keen to leave with a win.
The Gunners started the 2023-24 Premier League with a narrow 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest on Saturday, and they need to do better against the Eagles.
Arsenal have won just three of their last ten games against Palace and have generally found the Eagles a tough nut to crack, but Chris Sutton and Paul Merson believe they will secure a 2-0 win against Roy Hodgson’s on Monday.
“Arsenal went to Selhurst Park at the start of last season and won 2-0 in what was seen as a statement win, given how often they have dropped points against Palace in recent seasons,” Sutton told the BBC.
“Palace looked good against Sheffield United last weekend and, even at 76, their manager Roy Hodgson showed he is up for the fight in his skirmish with Max Lowe.
“Arsenal have got Jurrien Timber out injured, which is a bit of a blow, but I still think the Gunners’ firepower will see them through.”
Merson shares the same sentiment but expects Mikel Arteta’s side to find things tough in the Premier League this term.
“Arsenal started the game against Nottingham Forest looking nervy,” he told Sportskeeda.
“That’s the problem that the Gunners are going to encounter this season. They have to play with the weight of expectations this term.
“The Gunners have earned the respect of teams thanks to their performances last season. So they’re going to come up against teams that sit back and defend deep against them.”
Arsenal want to win the Premier League title this term after missing out on it to Manchester City last season, and they simply have to be better and win more games than the reigning champions.
A huge victory against Palace will be a statement of intent, and Arteta will expect his men to respond after Forest came close to drawing level last time out.
While Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Timber are out, they have enough squad depth the manager can pick from as the players all want to impress and keep their places in the starting XI, and anything less than a win at Selhurst Park could be a bitter pill to swallow.
