Crystal Palace and Arsenal do battle during Week Two of the 2023/24 English Premier League on Monday night at the Selhurst Park.
Ghana international duo Jordan Ayew and Thomas Partey are expected to start the match for Palace and the Gunners respectively.
Team News :
While the good news for Palace fans is that Olise has committed his future to Selhurst Park, the bad news is that the France Under-21 international is still working his way back from a severe thigh injury, and Hodgson has conceded that it will be a “while” before he is seen on the pitch again.
Summer signing Matheus Franca has also had his debut delayed due to a lower back concern, while Will Hughes is yet to recover from a knee injury sustained in pre-season and may take another couple of weeks to get up to speed. Meanwhile, Marc Guehi came off with cramp at Bramall Lane, but he will be fine for this one.
Edouard was heavily linked with a switch to Arsenal before Palace came calling, and the ex-Celtic man now has one of Zaha’s records in sight, as the Ivorian is the only previous Eagles player to score in both of their opening games of a season.
As for Arsenal, summer signing Jurrien Timber lasted just 50 minutes on his Premier League debut before becoming the latest in a long line of players to sustain a devastating anterior cruciate ligament rupture, which will keep the Dutchman sidelined for several months.
On a brighter note, Oleksandr Zinchenko is on the brink of returning from a calf issue and could make a timely comeback at Selhurst Park, where Jesus (knee) misses out once more, and the availability of a few out-of-favour players in Folarin Balogun (ankle), Albert Sambi Lokonga (muscle) and Mohamed Elneny (knee) is questionable.
Fresh from scoring a wonderful opening-day goal, Saka could now match Paul Merson’s all-time club record of playing in 82 consecutive Premier League games, and the 21-year-old should form part of an untouched attacking trident with Martinelli and compatriot Nketiah.
Monday’s London derby could also mark a first match in Arsenal colours for on-loan Brentford goalkeeper David Raya, but Aaron Ramsdale should win this head-to-head to start in between the sticks.
Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Johnstone; Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Doucoure, Lerma; JORDAN Ayew, Eze, Schlupp; Edouard
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, THOMAS Partey; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli
