Gunners face a potential 'banana skin' against Palace

After a narrow win in Birmingham against Aston Villa and international break which followed, Arsenal were in good position ahead of the next few games in the Premier League. The battle for the last remaining Champions League spot is still on, and it seems that their fiercest rival Tottenham is currently the only one which can cause them trouble. The Gunners have two, even three games in hand over their rivals, and have somewhat ‘easy’ schedule in the next three weeks, as they face Crystal Palace, Brighton and Southampton, before it gets brutal with Chelsea, United and West Ham. But, the very next opponent has a potential to be a true ‘banana skin’ who could upset Mikel Arteta’s team.

Crystal Palace is playing it’s best season since forever (some might say since Terry Venables in 1980) and are a totally opposite team to the one which played under Roy Hodgson, and who was happy just to survive in the Premier League. However, since Arsenal’s great Patrick Vieira took over, the Eagles secured the Premier League safety weeks ago, and are aiming for the top half finish for the first time in 8 years. Along the way, they added three players to their England international squad (Marc Guehi, Tyrick Mitchell and Conor Gallagher) and managed to secure a semi-final of the FA Cup, where they will face Chelsea. 

Saliba: If I do go back to Arsenal, it will be to play - not to sit on the bench

However their season ends, Vieira is a candidate for the manager of the season. Parish chairman Steve Parish made a huge risk adding Vieira as his coach and it paying off now. Not to mention that the Frenchman is only the 10th black manager ever in the top-flight. His team likes to get as much possession as possible (51.3% against last season’s 40.1%), which enabled them to be a better passing team (410 passes-per-game compared to 278 under Hodgson).

His success has not gone without notice, even from his former nemesis on the pitch, Roy Keane.

“He’s done great and listen, I have huge respect for Patrick Viera and had great battles with him and I’m not surprised how well he’s doing. I think he’s recruited well, they’re playing a lovely brand of football. Probably should’ve won one or two more games in terms of the league, couple of draws they’ve slipped up but Patrick’s done well and of course the cup run then is a bonus, but the priority for Palace was probably to stay up and get mid-table and he’s done a good job” said former United captain, now a TV pundit.

Petit opens up about a rift with Henry in front of Wenger

So will former Gunner try to give a hard time to his former club? You can bet on it, and Arteta will have to prepare good. The Spaniard is lucky, since everybody came from international break in good form and healthy. Kieran Tierney, Nicolas Pepe and Martin Odegaard all scored goals for their countries, while Gabriel Martinelli managed to make his debut for Brazil. Even Alexandre Lacazette managed a hattrick during a behind closed doors friendly against Brentford B. So, there is a healthy optimism coming from the Emirates stadium.

“I have experienced a lot of those games and the run that they’re in, the atmosphere we’re going to be playing against. We’re going to have to be prepared and we will be prepared. If you want to be challenging the top teams in the country, you have to win home and away. If not you don’t keep up to speed because the top points you expect to finish in those positions is going to be pretty high” said Arteta before the game.

PREMIER LEAGUE - ROUND 31

Saturday

Liverpool - Watford 2-0 (1-0)

/Jota 22, Fabinho 89 pen/

Wolverhampton Wanderers - Aston Villa 2-1 (2-0)

/Jonny 7, Young 36 og - Watkins 86 pen/

Chelsea - Brentford 1-4 (0-0)

/Rudiger 48 - Janelt 50, 60, Eriksen 54, Wissa 87/

Leeds United - Southampton 1-1 (1-0)

/Harrison 29 - Ward-Prowse 49/

Burnley - Manchester City 0-2 (0-2)

/De Bruyne 5, Gundogan 25/

Brighton - Norwich City 0-0

Manchester United - Leicester City 1-1 (0-0)

/Fred 66 - Iheanacho 63/

Sunday

West Ham United - Everton 2-1 (1-0)

/Cresswell 32, Bowen 58 - Holgate 53/

Tottenham - Newcastle 5-1 (1-1)

/Davies 43, Doherty 48, Son 54, Royal 63, Bergwijn 83 - Schar 41/

Monday

22:00 Crystal Palace - Arsenal