CRYSTAL PALACE 0-0 ARSENAL
Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha returned for the Premier League clash with Arsenal in place of Connor Wickham.
He is one of four changes made by Roy Hodgson to the team which lost 1-0 to Derby in the FA Cup with Vicente Guaita, James Tomkins and James McArthur recalled for Wayne Hennessey, Luka Milivojevic, who starts a three-match ban, and Brandon Pierrick.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang captains Arsenal after being rested for the FA Cup win over Leeds.
Bernd Leno, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Lucas Torreira came in with Emiliano Martinez, Rob Holding, Matteo Guendouzi and Reiss Nelson on the bench.
Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Kelly, Tomkins, Cahill, Riedewald, Meyer, Kouyate, McCarthy, McArthur, Ayew, Zaha
Arsenal XI: Leno, Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Luiz, Kolasinac, Xhaka, Torreira, Ozil, Pepe, Lacazette, Aubameyang
CRYSTAL PALACE 0-0 ARSENAL
11: Just past the ten-minute mark and absolutely nothing has happened. Plenty of Arsenal possession but not a single chance created. Tad disappointed with the lack of energy and ambition shown from the hosts – just 18 per cent possession…
8: The Eagles have scored just nine goals at home this season. Nine?! Based on that alone, a single Arsenal goal should see them secure something today. No pressing from Roy Hodgson’s side at all here. Mesut Ozil and Co. have time and space to unlock the defence.
5: David Luiz pings a sensational 40-yard pass to… well absolutely nobody as it arrows straight out of play. The BT Sport commentator was generous and blamed a ‘blustery’ Selhurst Park for the error. Crystal Palace look content to sit back, absorb pressure and break on the counter whenever possible.
3: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang took just 14 seconds to win a corner for Arsenal down the left channel. And they waste it as quickly as they won it for an infringement inside the penalty area. Good early sign for Mikel Arteta, who wanted his side to start a lot better than they did against Leeds on Monday.
CRYSTAL PALACE 0-0 ARSENAL
1: Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are looking to leapfrog Crystal Palace and close the five-point deficit on Sheffield United. What is happening in 2020?! Crazy. We’re underway at Selhurst Park.
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, team news and latest updates from Selhurst Par (Image: GETTY)
He offers goals
Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson speaking to BT Sport: “We think Cenk Tosun is going to offer goals. We knew he was a very good goalscorer when he went to Everton.
“It’s dried up for him in terms of playing opportunities, we hope we can give him more playing opportunities and with that we hope he can find his goal scoring because that’s where we need to improve our game.”
16 goals in 42 appearances for Turkey, 10 in 51 for Everton. I’m not convinced.
Arteta talked in Thursday’s presser about the work he and his coaching staff are doing with #afc’s defence. There’s a brief public glimpse of that with today’s back four here in the warm-up. Don’t remember seeing that too often in the past before games. pic.twitter.com/TTfND2vvit
— James Olley (@JamesOlley) January 11, 2020
David Luiz – leader
Mikel Arteta wants David Luiz to act as a leader to his Arsenal squad after being impressed by the defender’s attitude.
The Brazil international has impressed since Arteta’s appointment last month and put in a man of the match display in the 2-0 victory over Manchester United on New Year’s Day.
And Arteta was unequivocal when asked if he wanted Luiz to be a leader in the Arsenal dressing room: “Yes, that’s what I wanted to demand of him.
“He is a player that has won more trophies than anybody else in that dressing room. We have to use that in a very powerful way. I wanted him to step up, I wanted him to put all his qualities – his personality and his experience – towards the team and he made a big step forward. I am very very pleased with him.
“In the games he has played under me so far he has been terrific. His attitude in training, the way he communicates with his team-mates, his desire to still learn, it’s superb. I am delighted with him.”
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, team news and latest updates (Image: GETTY)
Transfer stuff
You all enjoying silly season? It’s 11-days in and Jim White has already had his yellow tie washed and pressed.
It is expected Cenk Tosun will be the first of several arrivals at SE25 during the January transfer window, with Roy Hodgson hopeful Tottenham right-back Kyle Walker-Peters will sign this month.
A loan deal has been mooted since last summer and Palace desperately need more cover in the full-back areas with Joel Ward (knee) and Patrick Van Aanholt (hamstring) out with injuries.
As for Arsenal, well it looks like being loan deals only for Mikel Arteta. Although I did see them linked with Brazilian teenager Yan Couto. What a statement that would be…
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, team news and latest updates (Image: GETTY)
Twitter reaction
Priyash: Today’s game against Crystal Palace is Mikel Arteta’s biggest test so far because of the number of key players missing for the Eagles.
Barry: Although it’s less fun than trying to guess an Unai Emery XI, the stability of knowing our formation and pretty much your XI each game is so much better!
Steven: It’s the first game in ages that I’ve looked at the line up and been so happy with it and confident that we can win this game. Come on Arsenal!
Pleased to hear it, Steven.
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, team news and latest updates (Image: GETTY)
What’s on?
Loads. So much that I’m required to work a double shift. Not bitter about it or anything.
As you know, we’re kicking things of in south London and then we’ll move to the 3pm’s which include Manchester United, Leicester, Everton and Chelsea.
And to round things off? How about a trip to north London as Jose Mourinho looks to halt the Jurgen Klopp juggernaut.
Today’s fixtures: Chelsea vs Burnley, Everton vs Brighton, Leicester vs Southampton, Manchester United vs Norwich, Wolves vs Newcastle, Tottenham vs Liverpool.
D’ya know?
This is the first time ever that Crystal Palace (9th) are facing Arsenal (10th) after Christmas in a top-flight match with the Eagles ahead of the Gunners in the table.
Not quite sure what you’re supposed to do with this information. Could tell your mates but I suspect you’ll be greeted with scorn, disdain and nobody caring. Let me know how it goes…
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, team news and latest updates (Image: GETTY)
VAR…
I can head the audible sigh from readers when they see the topic of VAR approaching – but I’m contractually obliged to discuss this useless piece of technology.
VAR got it wrong again last night after the technology denied West Ham a last-gasp equaliser against Sheffield United.
Robert Snodgrass looked to have made it 1-1 when he squeezed a low shot between a post and goalkeeper Dean Henderson, but replays showed that the ball had hit Declan Rice’s arm in the build up.
Anyway, the good folks down at Selhurst Park have printed these stylish t-shirts to display their thoughts. “Two for a tenner. Yes please, four.”
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, team news and latest updates (Image: GETTY)
Twitter reaction
The wonderful #CRYARS hashtag is in operation today and plenty of you have had your say.
Yolanda: Hope we can start to see that front four fire. Should have some good training done now under Mikel Arteta and get that attacking play going. Solid selection from the manager!
Tim: Big team. Very strong attack which could be the only way to break through the dangerously organised Crystal Palace.
George: To be fair with all the injuries – that’s a solid line-up for Crystal Palace. Obviously Max Meyer on the wing is disappointing. Wilfried Zaha needs to produce today.
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, team news and latest updates (Image: GETTY)
Team news – Crystal Palace
Roy Hodgson doesn’t hand Cenk Tosun a starting debut at Selhurst Park today. The loan signing, who cost Everton a whopping £27million during the Sam Allardyce days, will have to settle for a place on the bench.
Roy does make two changes to the Crystal Palace side that drew with Norwich on New Year’s Day.
Gary Cahill and Cheikhou Kouyate replace the suspended captain Luka Milivojevic and Mamadou Sakho.
Team news – Arsenal
So Mikel Arteta makes plenty of changes from the FA Cup third-round victory over Leeds – but starts the same side that cruised to victory over Manchester United.
That means Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang returns from illness to partner Alexandre Lacazette in attack with Nicolas Pepe and Mesut Ozil in support.
Arteta starts with a midfield of Granit Xhaka and Lucas Torreira with the usual suspects forming a back four.
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, team news and latest updates (Image: GETTY)
Team news and line ups
Those all-important team sheets arrive and a quick glance tells me that Cenk Tosun is on the bench and Mikel Arteta reverts to his strongest XI after the victory over Leeds. And yes, that includes Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Kelly, Tomkins, Cahill, Riedewald, Meyer, Kouyate, McCarthy, McArthur, Ayew, Zaha
Subs: Hennessey, Dann, Tosun, Wickham, Woods, Kirby, Keut
Arsenal XI: Leno, Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Luiz, Kolasinac, Xhaka, Torreira, Ozil, Pepe, Lacazette, Aubameyang
Subs: Martinez, Holding, Nelson, Willock, Guendouzi, Martinelli, Saka
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, team news and latest updates (Image: GETTY)
Speaking of hair…
Cenk Tosun. The Eagles announced the addition of Tosun on Friday on a deal until the end of the season and he could make his debut today.
Palace were in for the 28-year-old Turkey international a few transfer windows ago but lost out to Everton.
Tosun has struggled to replicate his excellent form for Besiktas at Goodison Park, with the forward netting 10 times in 51 appearances for the Toffees.
Now I only mention hair because I saw a few Everton fans calling him ‘Weetabix’ because of his very fine and wispy barnet. See what you think…
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, team news and latest updates from Selhurst Par (Image: GETTY)
Eras collide
Eras collide at Selhurst Park today where Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta faces Crystal Palace counterpart Roy Hodgson, who is 35 years his senior.
Arteta has made a mightily impressive start at the Emirates Stadium, not least in how he turned an abject first-half performance into a Monday night FA Cup win over Leeds.
Victory at Palace would serve as another significant stride in the right direction for a club still seeking to recapture the consistency of the Arsene Wenger era.
Yes, 35 years his senior but still boasting a very respectable amount of hair.
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, team news and latest updates from Selhurst Par (Image: GETTY)
Afternoon
Hello folks, welcome to our LIVE coverage of Crystal Palace vs Arsenal.
Pointless is back on television, train timetables have returned to their schedule state of disappointment and the Premier League is back with the normal Saturday/Sunday fixtures. Life is good again.
And we kick off our splendid Saturday together with a trip to Selhurst Park as Mikel Arteta looks to piece together back-to-back league wins.
His job has been made a fraction easier by the incredible list of injuries Roy Hodgson has to deal with.
No less than seven regular first-team players are sidelined with various issues and the Eagles are down to the bare bones.
So, now that I’ve teed up Arsenal for a massive fall – let’s get underway…
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League score, team news and latest updates (Image: GETTY)
CRYSTAL PALACE vs ARSENAL
Crystal Palace will be without captain Luka Milivojevic through suspension and a host of injured players but new loan signing Cenk Tosun is available after joining from Everton on Friday.
Wilfried Zaha, Jairo Riedewald and Max Meyer are expected to feature after recovering from knocks, but Joel Ward (knee), Scott Dann, Victor Camarasa (both calf), Mamadou Sakho, Patrick Van Aanholt (both hamstring), Jeffrey Schlupp (hip), Andros Townsend (groin) and Christian Benteke (muscle) remain out.
Hector Bellerin could return for Arsenal after eight games out and he will undergo a late fitness test on a hamstring injury, but fellow defenders Kieran Tierney (shoulder) and Calum Chambers (knee) are missing.
Head coach Mikel Arteta is expected to recall the likes of Bernd Leno, Lucas Torreira and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after they were rested for Monday’s FA Cup win over Leeds.
Last season: Arsenal 2 Crystal Palace 3, Crystal Palace 2 Arsenal 2
Last five league matches: Crystal Palace DLWDD; Arsenal LDDLW
Top scorers (all competitions): Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) 5; Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) 15
Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire)