Injury News
Arsenal hope to welcome Gabriel Jesus back to the match-day squad, while Oleksandr Zinchenko could also return following a two-game absence. Takehiro Tomiyasu and Mohamed Elneny miss out through their involvement at the Asia Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations, while long-term absentees Jurrien Timber and Thomas Partey continue their recovery. Fabio Vieira has been training in Dubai but it is unclear whether this game will come too soon for him to be involved in the squad.
Palace will have to do without both Michael Olise and Jordan Ayew, who miss out through injury and International selection respectively. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi is also expected to miss out having only recently returned to training.
Form
Arsenal come into the game following a turbulent run of form. Having led the Premier League at Christmas, the Gunners have drifted to fourth after claiming just four points from their past five games.
Crystal Palace, who sit 14th in the table, will be hoping to secure back-to-back wins for the first time since April, having beaten Brentford 3-1 just before the turn of the year. The Eagles have picked up five points from their past five games, including a 2-2 draw with Manchester City.
Recent History
Palace do not tend to travel well to N5, winning just twice in the league since 1994. They will however have fond memories of their most recent victory at the Emirates in 2019, when a 3-2 win damage Arsenal's quest for Champions League football.
Arsenal have won their last three games over the visitors, including a 4-1 win at home last season. This followed a a run of just one win across the previous eight games, showing that Hodgson's side certainly know how to get one over their North London counterparts.
In the reverse fixture back in August, a Martin Odegaard penalty was enough to claim the three points, despite a controversial red card for Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Prediction
Arsenal simply have to win if they have realistic aspirations of challenging for the title in the second half of the campaign. A win would see them climb to third in the table and to within two points of leaders Liverpool, albeit having played a game more.
Palace in contrast will be hoping to put some much needed distance between them and the relegation zone, sitting just five points above 18th-placed Luton Town.
A return to winning ways is on the cards, 2-0 to The Arsenal.
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