Arsenal: The next big hurdle, can they clear it with room to spare?

Thursday night we face a resurgent Crystal Palace side who is now managed by Roy Hodgson. Will we be up to the challenge?

Only time will tell if Arsenal can muster up the strength and focus to actually win this fixture. This fixture last season turned out to be the turning point in a lot of the hatred for the boss. Arsene Wenger fielded a weaker side and got punished for it. Will that happen again?

As Arsenal fans, we are treated each week to inflated ticket prices and conservative football.

Maybe this week we could try to remedy that. Crystal Palace are flying high right now, having not lost since November 5th against a strong Tottenham side.

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Since Hodgson took over, it’s been smooth sailing and only points. The Gunners are having more of a bumpy Christmas period. With fixtures galore, when do you rest your best players?

Having picked up six points in six games during the month of December so far, its safe to say we’re not at our best. We’re nowhere where we should be. With big teams flying high and even Burnley are near the top duking it out with the big six.

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With players like Alexandre Lacazette, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil up front we really shouldn’t be starved for goals. Yet this season we’ve only scored a measly 34 goals.

How is that possible?

Well, it’s from us not converting our chances. Take the Manchester United game for instance. We had 33 shots. 16 on target. We need to be putting these types of chances away. Lacazette shouldn’t be hitting the keeper from six yards out.

Against Crystal Palace we need to be clinical as they do not concede too many under Hodgson. We need to push forward and penetrate their defense instead of playing it backwards we need that little bit of quality to push it forward to make plays. Always going backwards leads to problems in the back, we tend to lose focus in those cases. Look for the runs of Sanchez and Lacazette.

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Will we see a rejuvenated Arsenal side, or will we see the same old conservative team?