Crystal Palace vs Arsenal
Venue: Selhurst Park
Kick off: 4pm
Arsenal can climb back into the Premier League’s top four with victory at Crystal Palace on Saturday (today).
The Gunners are currently one point adrift of the Champions League places despite winning six of their last eight games.
Defeats to Southampton and rivals Tottenham Hotspur have held them back somewhat and could yet prove costly in a competitive top-four race.
With none of Spurs, the Saints or Liverpool in action until Sunday, Arsenal have the chance to strike the first blow this weekend when they travel to Selhurst Park.
Palace are a changed team from the one which lost in the last minute to their London rivals on the opening day, in the wake of Tony Pulis’s pre-season walk-out.
They have won five out of eight matches since Alan Pardew’s arrival to climb five points clear of the relegation zone and have already beaten Tottenham during this run.
Pardew is likely to stick with debutant Pape Souare at left-back, but could make changes elsewhere with James McArthur likely to return in midfield, with Joel Ward moving to right-back and Martin Kelly dropping out.
Arsenal loanee, Yaya Sanogo, is ineligible, but former Gunners striker, Marouane Chamakh, could start in support of Campbell in attack. Dwight Gayle has been used on the wing of late but will make way for Jason Puncheon.
Arsene Wenger is blessed with options to play around the Frenchman and Danny Welbeck, Santi Cazorla, Mesut Ozil and the fit-again Alexis Sanchez could all start in a midfield capable of intimidating any defence.
With injuries to Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere deeper in midfield, Wenger perhaps has no option but to go attacking and so Francis Coquelin will have a key role to play in marshalling the defence.
Laurent Koscielny may be the only member of the cup back five to retain their place. Gabriel enjoyed a solid bow, but will be replaced by Per Mertesacker, while David Ospina, Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal should also return.
Palace Possible starting lineup: Speroni; Ward, Hangeland, Dann, Souare; Puncheon, McArthur, Ledley, Bolasie; Chamakh, Campbell
Arsenal Possible starting lineup: Ospina; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Cazorla; Ozil, Sanchez, Welbeck; Giroud.