Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Vs Palace: 5 key players to watch — Please score soon

By Andrew Dowdeswell

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 03: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on January 3, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 03: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on January 3, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Alexandre Lacazette
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 03: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on January 3, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /

Arsenal host Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon in desperate need of a get-right win. Here are five key players to watch, including a rather lengthy goal drought.

The Premier League rumbles on this weekend, with Arsenal returning to the unusual but quite comforting normality of a Saturday, 3 PM kick-off. Because of their Thursday night Europa League campaigns, their extended involvement in the Carabao Cup and the lack of routine of the festive period, it seems odd to see the Gunners play at the traditional weekend slot.

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Nevertheless, they host a quickly improving Crystal Palace side who caused them problems in the return fixture just a few weeks previous. Here are five key players to watch with Arsene Wenger’s side in desperate need of a get-right victory.

Arsenal, Jack Wilshere
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – JANUARY 14: Jack Wilshere of Arsenal after the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal at Vitality Stadium on January 14, 2018 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /

5. Jack Wilshere

Jack Wilshere has performed admirably in Aaron Ramsey’s stead. He had to wait patiently for his first Premier League start this season — it was not until the 17th game of the campaign, a goalless draw against West Ham United. But when he was afforded the opportunity, he did not let it slide.

In fact, what has perhaps most pleasing, and surprising, is that Wilshere has improved as he has settled into the side. My initial thought was that he would explode onto the scene, ignited by the adrenaline and passion of a long-awaited return, before tailing off as his body began to feel the effects of regular football. That has not been the case.

Wilshere played his best game of the season last weekend. Time and time again, he received the ball under pressure before, serenely, almost as if he wasn’t thinking, just floating through on instinct, turning his way out of trouble and initiating another Arsenal attack. Wilshere will likely be tasked with being the Gunners’ primary string-puller on Saturday. If Mesut Ozil and Ramsey are again absent, the latter of which will likely be on the bench, then it is a mighty responsibility for the man striving for a new contract.