Arsenal: Tired of transfer talk? A look ahead to Saturday’s match against Crystal Palace

Tired of transfer rumors? Here’s a preview of Saturday’s match as Arsenal look to end their winless run against a resurgent Crystal Palace.

If you’re like me, you’ve learned not to take a vested interest in any Arsenal transfer dealings until the paperwork is finalized. The Gunners are notoriously slow in their transfer proceedings, and to get swooped up in the hype, is to ultimately be disappointed.

So rather than read about rumors of Pierre-Emerick Aubamayeng or Malcom and how their possible arrival will impact the future squad, let’s talk about what the current squad can expect this weekend when hosting Crystal Palace.

Crystal Palace has been punching above their weight since the end of October, a period which has seen them climb out of the relegation zone and up to 12th place. In that time they’ve accumulated a record of 5-7-2, with one of those two losses coming at the hands of Arsenal’s 3-2 win. Unfortunately, that marked Arsenal’s last victory to date, as they’ve gone winless in their last five matches across all competitions.

Related Story: 5 Things Learned Against Bournemouth

Aside from the two sides contrasting runs of form, Palace provides an interesting matchup for Arsenal, where their strength will be matched against the Gunner’s weakness. Much of Palace’s success has been down to the play of their wingers, Andros Townsend, and star man Wilfried Zaha.

Last time out it was clear that Palace had set out to exploit the channels alongside the back three, particularly down their left where they could isolate Zaha against the struggling Calum Chambers. This paid dividends early on as Zaha dragged Chambers into the channel, beat him down the line, and fired in a cross, which brought Palace level at 1-1.

On that day, Laurent Koscielny played opposite Chambers, and had better luck containing Townsend. However, neither Koscielny or Townsend seem likely to feature this weekend, as both are struggling with injuries.

In their place we can expect a duel between Rob Holding and Bakary Sako. It’s hard to predict who will have the upper hand in that matchup, as both players can be streaky at times.

Either way, Arsenal can expect Palace to look primarily to the channels alongside Chambers and Holding for isolated matchups and quick counters. Lately, the Guners have implemented a more conservative approach with their wingbacks, keeping them withdrawn when out of possession to support the back three. By continuing this trend, Arsenal will be better equipped to deal with the threat of Zaha and Sako in these areas.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

Unfortunately, keeping these wingbacks withdrawn would be counter intuitive to breaking down the Palace defense who are likely to sit deep and deny space for the Gunner’s front three.

Arsenal’s attacking woes may be alleviated by the return of Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil, but the added threat and width of Hector Bellerin and Ainsley Maitland-Niles may prove vital in breaking down Palace’s back line. This would suggest deploying the wingbacks higher upfield, and potentially leaving the back three exposed as they were against Chelsea in the 2-2 draw.

Ultimately, the wingbacks roles will come down to a matter of risk vs. reward. Here, Wenger may opt for a more conservative approach as the potential of Jack Wilshere, Ramsey, and Ozil together in midfield should be able to dissect any opponent. This trio should have no issues controlling the midfield against Crystal Palace, and a trademark run from Ramsey may be exactly what’s needed to get Arsenal and Alexandre Lacazette firing again.

Next: Top 3 Alexis Sanchez Replacements

These are the keys for Saturday’s match, which should spell the end of Arsenal’s winless run. On the defensive front, the Gunners should be prepared to contain the likes of Zaha and Sako. In attack, the return of Ramsey, and hopefully Ozil, should reignite the dying embers of Arsenal’s attack, providing not only a result, but a statement.