Arsenal vs Crystal Palace is the first match of the Premier League season as Arsenal look to begin their charge towards top 4 while Crystal Palace wants to break into the top 10.
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace: Match Preview
Both sides will approach the opening contest of the new campaign in SE25 in high spirits after encouraging summers, with the Gunners losing just one of their friendlies and putting a combined 10 goals past Chelsea and Sevilla with no reply thanks in no small part to the red-hot form of £45million recruit Gabriel Jesus.
Arsenal will be eager to build on that sense of excitement and anticipation and avoid the same fate that befell them in last year's all-London kick-off, when they were bested by newly-promoted Brentford after a dismal display.
Looking to provide Mikel Arteta's side with a reality check is a Palace team that will hope to make further strides this term under the tutelage of Arsenal icon Patrick Vieira.
The Eagles won three of their last four friendlies, notching seven times in two matches against QPR and Montpellier, and have been boosted by the arrivals of Cheick Doucouré and Chris Richards.
Team News:
Arsenal:
Arsenal's treatment room is not empty either, as Emile Smith Rowe's groin strain is reportedly set to keep him sidelined, while Fabio Vieira, Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu have all been dealing with minor issues in pre-season.
None of the trio are expected to make the starting lineup on Friday, so Ben White could very well resume his duties at right-back, allowing William Saliba to finally make his competitive debut alongside Gabriel Magalhaes in the heart of defence.
Jesus and Zinchenko are also primed to feature in the first XI, while Martin Odegaard will start in his number 10 role after being confirmed as Arsenal's new captain.
Crystal Palace:
Crystal Palace's goalkeeping ranks have taken a couple of hits in pre-season, with new signing Sam Johnstone nursing a quadriceps injury and classed as a major doubt for the opening day, while Jack Butland is out with a broken hand.
Vicente Guaita should act as the last line of defence for the hosts on Friday, while James McArthur and Michael Olise are expected to miss out with groin and ankle injuries respectively.
McArthur's absence only increases Doucoure's chance of earning a first competitive start for the Eagles, while a front three of Jordan Ayew, Wilfried Zaha and Odsonne Edouard started against Montpellier and could do so again here.
Head to Head:
The Teams Crystal Palace and Arsenal played 22 Games up to today. Among them, Crystal Palace won 3 games ( 2 at Selhurst Park, 1 at Emirates Stadium away), Arsenal won 14 (8 at Emirates Stadium, 6 at Selhurst Park away), and drew 5 (1 at Selhurst Park, 4 at Emirates Stadium).
Predicted Line-ups:
Arsenal Starting 11: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Partey, Xhaka; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
Bench: Turner, Holding, Cedric, Maitland-Niles, Elneny, Pepe, Nketiah
Crystal Palace Starting 11: Guaita; Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Eze, Doucoure, Schlupp; Ayew, Edouard, Zaha
Bench: Whitworth, Richards, Clyne, Riedewald, Milivojevic, Mateta, Benteke