Arsenal predictions.

[BromleyMonkey]

I'd take a League Cup win and 16th-17th.

I’m with you mate, Swansea, Birmingham and Wigan have all won one of the cups in the last decade or so and despite all three going seriously downhill since, you can never take away the fact they won a major trophy

 

[adelaar]

Two games coming up in a few days against the mighty Arsenal.
Would hope,given our brilliant form that an away point is possible,even an unlikely win in the league game.
Going for a 2-2 draw.
Regarding the Cup game tomorrow, anything is possible,but feel we have an outside chance of pulling off a famous victory in front of their number one fan,Starmer!! 2-1.

Your anti Labour vitriol in the Budget forum is tiresome.
The fact you mention 'an away point is possible' when it's a cup game demonstrates the lack of detail in your posts.

 

[dreamwaverider]

I'm just looking forward to both matches, especially if we can maintain the momentum. Tonight? Guess they won't put out their best 11 but whether that helps us really depends on who OG decides to rest. I'd like to see a best 11 for the first half then bring on a couple of the youngsters, maybe give one or two old timers an outing as well (eg Ward). We've always been the bridesmaids in this competition, quarters or semi best efforts so far, but it will never have the same cudos as the FA Cup (PLEASE can we have a third crack at ManU?). Impossible to predict so will stick with a narrow one goal margin either way tonight and 2-0 to us Saturday.

You are right so far,

 

[PatrickA]

We will face a different and stronger Arsenal on Saturday with their big hitters starting the game.
For me the key will be to nullify Odegard, and in particular his link up play with Saka.
They can cut you open in the blink of an eye.
I would be tempted to man mark Odegard with Lerma and not afford him all the space he was given yesterday.
Similarly, I would task Mitchell with keeping Saka quiet, which has done reasonably well in the past.
If Lerma is detailed with this role we would need another body in midfield to stiffen us there, which would probably mean sacrificing Eze for this particular game.
He's unlikely to be on the ball too much and a more competitive presence may be required against a dominant in possession Arsenal.
It's a squad game and Eze could still have a role from the bench.
Keep him fresh for the Bournemouth and Southampton games.

 

[doombear]

We will face a different and stronger Arsenal on Saturday with their big hitters starting the game.
For me the key will be to nullify Odegard, and in particular his link up play with Saka.
They can cut you open in the blink of an eye.
I would be tempted to man mark Odegard with Lerma and not afford him all the space he was given yesterday.
Similarly, I would task Mitchell with keeping Saka quiet, which has done reasonably well in the past.
If Lerma is detailed with this role we would need another body in midfield to stiffen us there, which would probably mean sacrificing Eze for this particular game.
He's unlikely to be on the ball too much and a more competitive presence may be required against a dominant in possession Arsenal.
It's a squad game and Eze could still have a role from the bench.
Keep him fresh for the Bournemouth and Southampton games.

An interesting take, Patrick. We saw when Odegaard was injured that neither Arsenal nor Saka were as threatening. We're likely to be without the ball for a good 65% plus of the time so it will be about compact organisation and reducing the spaces that Arsenal like to play in. As for which extra midfielder, I'd be inclined to go for Devenny with Doucoure as a sub option second half.

What OG does about Kporha is a conundrum. How much has he learnt from his experience last night? I think he'll get some minutes on Saturday but it may well be Clyne who starts.

 

[Honey Gee]

• Crystal Palace have lost their last seven meetings with Arsenal.

Arsenal AFC have drawn their last two EPL Premier League games but these draws were accomplished playing against superior squads who are also competing for UEFA matches and will be looking to put some pressure back on Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC when they face Crystal PFC for the second time in around 68.5 hours

The Gunners had The Eagles tied down to a score of 2-2 before a stoppage time winner from GFd Jesus in their Quarter Final Play Off EFL Cup on 2024 Wednesday, December 18 dispatched the red army into historic celebrations within a heavenly scene which leaves the players just one more dream away from emulating the same Wembley footsteps walked by legendary Arsenal warriors Ken Sansom, Steve Williams, Neil Quinn and Martin Hayes in the 1987 triumph over one of the greatest sides in the entire 150 year history of world soccer. The all-conquering champion of champions, Liverpool FC.

This game also marked the first time in 255 games that chief Liverpool swordsman Ian Rush was on the losing side in a match in which he had scored.

 

[Lanzo-Ad]

I am not knocking Glasner, he is definitely the long term solution, as i have admitted, but for the league game on Saturday, i can see no justification in playing wing backs with three central defenders, basically because we don't have any, i know he will not change it, hopefully the WBs situation will be sorted in the coming window, but for this game only surely 4-4-2.

 

[Willo]

I am not knocking Glasner, he is definitely the long term solution, as i have admitted, but for the league game on Saturday, i can see no justification in playing wing backs with three central defenders, basically because we don't have any, i know he will not change it, hopefully the WBs situation will be sorted in the coming window, but for this game only surely 4-4-2.

I do not envisage Oliver Glasner deviating from his back 3 and 2 wing-backs.
I suspect for much of the game the defence will be a back 5 with Arsenal dominating the ball.

 

[Lanzo-Ad]

I do not envisage Oliver Glasner deviating from his back 3 and 2 wing-backs.
I suspect for much of the game the defence will be a back 5 with Arsenal dominating the ball.

If we are going to play 5 across the back then Richards will be the best option, better defender than Clyne, and as he will not be venturing to far forward a bonus for corners at both ends.

 

[Lanzo-Ad]

I do not envisage Oliver Glasner deviating from his back 3 and 2 wing-backs.
I suspect for much of the game the defence will be a back 5 with Arsenal dominating the ball.

Do you see a possibility of 5,3,2 with Lerma, Doucoure and Hughes as the 3, and Mateta and Nketiah as the 2, with Eze and Sarr on the bench?

 

[ASCPFC]

I am not knocking Glasner, he is definitely the long term solution, as i have admitted, but for the league game on Saturday, i can see no justification in playing wing backs with three central defenders, basically because we don't have any, i know he will not change it, hopefully the WBs situation will be sorted in the coming window, but for this game only surely 4-4-2.

I noticed that, without the ball - and in the absence of Munoz - we tend to shift to a four with Chalobah on the Right and Mitchell on the left. You'll probably see it at the weekend. Clyne (or whoever) steps higher and into midfield - presumably due to his lack of pace.
Now, it didn't work - but I think mainly to do with Clyne not being quick enough, or actually any good in any of the positions he was in.
Quite interesting tactically. The players may not quite be used to it either. We fell apart once changes were made.

 

[eaglesdare]

I would be happy to rotate a little tomorrow if we can. We have Bournemouth and Southampton coming up after.

I expect a similar game to Wednesday evening but loose 3-1.

 

[JHB]

Arsenal are a good side but haven’t payed that well in the league in the last couple of games. We have to give this one a good go. I expect they might have too much for us but I could see a 1-1 or maybe even us nicking it. Bizarrely I feel more optimistic about this game than Bournemouth. Bournemouth are creating a hatful of chances at the moment but their finishing has been even worse than ours

 

[Willo]

Do you see a possibility of 5,3,2 with Lerma, Doucoure and Hughes as the 3, and Mateta and Nketiah as the 2, with Eze and Sarr on the bench?

I am not expecting to see Eze and Sarr on the bench.

Odegaard is hugely influential and it is clear that we cannot allow him the time and space to thread passes into strikers running into the channels.Besides, his passing options need to be reduced by blocking off the 'Lanes'.
Arsenal will dominate the ball and a point would be a commendable result.

 

[Eaglehamster]

Well on paper it's Arsenal, who'll be playing their strongest 11 unlike Wed night.
"On paper" has a funny way of not working out. A Palace win by any margin will ensure I have a happy Christmas.

COYP!!!!!!

 

[dreamwaverider]

Well on paper it's Arsenal, who'll be playing their strongest 11 unlike Wed night.
"On paper" has a funny way of not working out. A Palace win by any margin will ensure I have a happy Christmas.

COYP!!!!!!

If Selhurst can make as big a noise as your last comment above your Christmas wish may be delivered.

🦅🦅🦅

 

[ex hibitionist]

If I had a bet on the game I'd go 2-1 Arsenal with a small saver on 2-2. They looked a bit awesome first 20 2nd half but our subs shored it up a bit and if we can frustrate them they do lose their composure. OG said post match something about Wednesday's game helping us to find a way for Saturday. But I do think the likeliest result is a narrow Arsenal win. I'd like to see Devenny get more time on the pitch, us breaking better, when they robbed our attackers they were on to us straight away whereas we got quickly outnumbered and gave the ball back to them, and let's not be afraid to play - when we went less cautious and got the second goal we looked really good - bit more positivity like that will give us a fighting chance.

 

[BromleyMonkey]

It’ll be nice to scrape a point, but as long as we have a go and give them a game again I’ll be happy, any sort of result will be a bonus

 

[blackgirl3]

i think the brighton game took a lot out of our players and we looked very leggy in the cup weds night and we really missed daniel m

 

[Eagleman13]

If, anyone's interested, the Ref is Simon Hooper & VAR is Michael Salisbury.