Crystal Palace welcome Arsenal to Selhurst Park in Friday Night Football in the opening match of 2022-23 Premier League season.
Palace enter this season looking to build upon their 12th-placed finish of last season, whereas Arsenal are chasing a top-four finish for the first time since 2015-16 season.
Team News
Palace will be without summer signing, Sam Johnstone after he suffered a quad injury during pre-season, following his move from West Bromwich Albion.
James McArthur (knock) is a doubt but Jack Butland (hand), James Tomkins (muscle) and Michael Olise (foot) are definitely ruled out.
Summer signings – Malcolm Ebiowei, Cheick Doucoure, Cormac Austin and Chris Richards will be looking for their competitive debuts for Palace in this match.
Arsenal could hand competitive debuts to the following summer signings; Fabio Vieira, Marquinhos, Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko, although Vieira is a doubt with a foot injury.
Goalkeeper, Matt Turner could be named as a substitute on the bench as second-choice goalie behind Aaron Ramsdale who is set to start this match.
Emile Smith Rowe (muscle), Kieran Tierney (knee) and Takehiro Tomisayu (thigh) are doubts.
Stat Attack
- Crystal Palace have lost just one of their last eight meetings against Arsenal (W2, D5, L1).
- Arsenal are unbeaten in four of their last five trips to Selhurst Park (W2, D2, L1).
- Both teams have scored in eight of their last 10 league meetings – except for a 0-0 in January 2021 and 3-0 Palace win in April 2022.
- Palace have won just two of their last five opening weekend fixtures in the last five seasons (W2, D1, L2).
- Arsenal are looking to avoid opening day defeats in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2015-16 & 16-17 seasons.
Prediction
Having enjoyed a solid first season under Patrick Vieira which included a run to the FA Cup semi-finals, Palace now surely have to aim for a better campaign this time round but they will be without influential loanee – Conor Gallagher which will leave a tough hole to fill in their midfield.
They however have spent wisely even if new signing, Doucoure seems a long-term prospect given his young age, which is a slight concern in the short-term given their tricky opening fixture but Vieira will be buoyant to have kept his key players amidst an early goalkeeping injury crisis.
Arsenal meanwhile come into this match unbeaten in pre-season during which they scored 20 goals and conceded just four goals, with Jesus and Bukayo Saka looking to have already found their form so I am expecting a fiercely attacking Arsenal team to turn up at Selhurst Park.
If that is the case and given Palace’s weak home form against Arsenal, Vieira’s Eagles better defend for their lives because if they’re not careful, I fancy a comfortable victory for the Gunners if they bring their pre-season form into this game.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 0-2 Arsenal
Result: Crystal Palace 0-2 Arsenal