Crystal Palace vs Arsenal 21.12.2024 - KO 17:30 GMT

[Letters]

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

[The Wengerbabies]

Must win

[HCZ_Reborn]

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

[HCZ_Reborn]

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)

[McNamara That Ghost...]

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

Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Clyne, Lerma, Hughes, Mitchell; Kamada, Sarr, Mateta
Subs: Turner, Ward, Nketiah, SChlupp, Chalobah, Doucoure, Devenny, Kporha, Agbinone

Arsenal subs: Subs: Neto, Tierney, Kiwior, Calafiori, Jorginho, Rice, Merino, Nwaneri, Trossard

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Havertz in midfield nonsense again.

[HCZ_Reborn]

So did a quick check about our record of coming from behind to win away games (our seeming inability to do so bothers me, but equally as I said it’s a record that pre-dates Arteta even)

So of the current 19 other teams in the premier league we have never come from behind to win (on the road) against Bournemouth, Brighton, Fulham, Brentford, Palace, Wolves, Newcastle, Man United or Ipswich when conceding the first goal (in the premier league)


Of course a bit of a misleading stat as many of these teams haven’t been in the premier league the length of time we have, and in many games the goals they do score are consolation goals after having the shit kicked out of them.


But for me it highlights the importance of not conceding first

[HCZ_Reborn]

Havertz in midfield nonsense again.

I feared as much

Arteta will change the lineup but he won’t change the one thing that needs to be changed…the system


Today why not go bold and play two up front (in such a situation you’d want Rice sitting in front of the back four rather than Partey). The one thing that’s almost guaranteed with Havertz at 8, is not being quick getting forward and Martinelli being isolated again

[Mac76]

How do we know he won't play two up front?

It could be this:

Raya
Timber Saliba Gabriel MLS
Partey
Odegaard
Saka Martinelli
Havertz Jesus

Btw if Rice isn't playing in this he must be in a bit of didficulty still, more than they're saying