Crystal Palace vs Arsenal 21.12.2024 - KO 17:30 GMT

This is really a no ifs, ands or buts must win. Stop worrying about controlling the game and worry about winning it. They are solid defensively, have the ability to cause problems coming forward in attack and they are in good form

The last two games at Selhurst Park have been wins that were hard fought, chances were at a premium so we will have to make sure we take the chances we create. I would rather play Odegaard and Nwaneri, or failing that two up front than two holding midfielders, would be better to get into a lead and then look to hold onto what we have (which we are more than capable of)

Realistically we need to not only win but hope Spurs are capable of beating Liverpool. On one hand Spurs are a car crash defensively, on the other hand Liverpool have conceded 7 goals in their last 4 games.

Also would help if that awful Everton side continued their trend of beating Chelsea who have become quite the irritant.

I hope we win, tbh.

We really have to. I know you produced the "in all competitions" stats and they were, surprisingly, comparable to last year. But that must be in part because of a better record in Europe. We are well down on points compared with where we were last season. We cannot keep slipping up if we're serious about a title challenge. We have to put a run of wins together, starting here.

3-0 Eze hatter

I do feel like Palace, especailly away, are a bit of a banana skin for us but obvs no room for slips now, must win etc

1-1

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Letters

I hope we win, tbh.

We really have to. I know you produced the "in all competitions" stats and they were, surprisingly, comparable to last year. But that must be in part because of a better record in Europe. We are well down on points compared with where we were last season. We cannot keep slipping up if we're serious about a title challenge. We have to put a run of wins together, starting here.

---

No it’s not Europe, 4 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat in both


It’s more the league cup, where as last season we’d played twice lost one and won one. And rather than the third fixture we had this season, there was the charity shield (which we won on pels but was technically a draw)

But even if you take the league, we are six points worse off but there isn’t a great deal of difference. I think as I say we lucked out more often with last minute goals but aren’t demonstrably worse than first half of last season….a) we weren’t great then either b) I think on balance we had harder fixtures this season

Anyway, team id pick for tomorrow

Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Nwaneri, Odegaard, Martinelli, Havertz, Saka

Subs

Jesus, Trossard, Partey, Sterling, Jorginho, Merino, Kiwior, Tierney, Neto

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HCZ_Reborn

But even if you take the league, we are six points worse off but there isn’t a great deal of difference. I think as I say we lucked out more often with last minute goals but aren’t demonstrably worse than first half of last season….a) we weren’t great then either b) I think on balance we had harder fixtures this season

---

Interesting. We’re not as much worse off than I would have guessed and we definitely have had harder fixtures. We have dropped silly points but we did in the first half of last season too. Hmm. Need to start winning soon now though

Must win

Team to play Palace: Raya, Timber, Gabriel, Saliba, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Odegaard, Havertz, Martinelli, Jesus, Saka

Calafiori on the bench, along with Rice


Not mad keen on this lineup because it seems to suggest Havertz playing at 8 (hopefully I’m wrong)