Crystal Palace vs Arsenal Premier League preview: How to watch, lineups, Vieira & prediction

There is not long left to go now with Arsenal are finally back in Premier League action on Monday when they make the short journey of the Thames to face Crystal Palace. Here is the match preview.

16 days separate the Selhurst Park clash and the most recent 1-0 victory away at Aston Villa, with the usually mind-numbingly boring international break at least offering some modicum of enjoyment last time around.

Predominantly friendly matches, places at the World Cup were booked for Takehiro Tomiyasu and Thomas Partey, while Gabriel Martinelli and William Saliba both made their senior international debuts.

There is no time to enjoy the time away too much as league action will now dominate peoples’ lives up until May 22, with so much riding on the outcome of the upcoming ten games. It’s full steam ahead towards the top four and victory here would take Arsenal one step closer.

Crystal Palace vs Arsenal Premier League preview: How to watch, predicted lineups, Patrick Vieira reunion & score prediction

This game pits the division’s draw specialists against the side with the joint-fewest, as Palace head into the fixture with 13 to their name, a full ten more than the Gunners have managed. Looking at it now, despite the form the Eagles are in, just the solitary point won’t do.

But of course it’s impossible to look past the emotive side of the game: Patrick Vieira.

It may well be one of few occasions where the travelling support will sing the name of the manager in the opposition dugout louder than any of the home fans. We love Vieira, more than any Palace fan can ever imagine, but on Monday that is sentiment that masks business. It’s all about winning.

Secure the three points and then we’ll go back to having Palace as our second team.

While no game in this league is easy, the next three for Arsenal are, on paper, three of the most ‘winnable’ they have left to play. After this trio it gets into spicy territory. The tongue is tingling.

As for this one, both sides will be eyeing revenge: Arsenal for playing so poorly in the reverse meeting and needing a get-out-of-jail free card, while Palace want to make amends for that late heartbreak.

It’s going to be a big one.

How to Watch on TV

When Is Kick Off? Monday 4 April
What Time Is Kick Off? 20:00 (GMT)
Where Is it Played? Selhurst Park
TV Channel/Live Stream? Sky Sports (UK) fuboTV (USA)
Referee? Paul Tierney
Who is on VAR? Jarred Gillett

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Arsenal Team News vs Crystal Palace – Tomiyasu, Ramsdale & Saka

Out of action since January, there appears to finally be an end in sight for Takehiro Tomiyasu who has been riddled with niggling calf problems that have kept him out of action for months.

The Japan international could be in contention.

"“I think it will be close,” Arteta said. “He’s been training more and more. He has the boys back now, so he will be joining some sessions this week, and let’s see how it is.”"

Aaron Ramsdale is the other injury concern with a hip problem he suffered in the defeat to Liverpool, and while he’s had time off to recover from the issue over the international break, he’s still unlikely to feature.

"“Aaron is a doubt,” Arteta added. “He’s still feeling not great. He hasn’t trained yet so we don’t know what he will be able to do on Monday.”"

On the positive front, Bukayo Saka has been training with his teammates back at London Colney after testing positive for Covid while on international duty. While it’s unfortunate he missed out on games, the additional time off won’t be unwelcome for the star boy. He should be fit.

Vieira, meanwhile, is sweating on the fitness of key forward duo Wilfried Zaha and Michael Olise, and although they’ve been heavily regarded as doubts for the game, he’s refusing to rule them out just yet.

James McArthur and Nathan Ferguson both trained during the week as well having had spells out, with the pair in line to be involved in the squad.

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Arsenal Predicted Lineup to Face Crystal Palace – Any Changes?

Crystal Palace: Guaita; Clyne, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Gallagher, Kouyate, Schlupp; Ayew, Mateta, Eze

Arsenal: Leno; Cedric, White, Gabriel, Tierney; Odegaard, Partey, Xhaka; Saka, Lacazette, Martinelli

Crystal Palace vs Arsenal Score Prediction

They may be sitting below mid-table, they may have only seven wins this season, they may have scored only one more goal than they’ve conceded, but make no mistake, Crystal Palace are a good side.

You tip your hat to Patrick Vieira, who has taken on a job that many expected to end in disaster with a large number of predictions for the Eagles to finish in the bottom three. Not only has he transformed the playing style of the group and done wonders with the academy, he’s done it all an incredibly short space of time with a huge turnover of players to boot.

It’s mightily impressive. But Arsenal should still beat them.

How Palace approach this game will be interesting. At home to Man City they were happy (nobody is ever actually happy against City) to soak up pressure and hit on the break, while in normal instances they are an intense pressing team in the middle and final third who want to win the ball back quickly and force broken play.

If they opt to come at Arsenal then it’s ideal. This team is set up to play through the opposition, they’ve shown variance in their build-up and a way to bypass a press, and boast the individual quality to beat players in tight spaces.

Does that mean it will be plain sailing? Absolutely not. This looks like it will be another tight game.

Score Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-2 Arsenal