16 October 2021, 13:51 | 28 August 2021, 15:29
English Premier League Matchday 8 extends into the first day of the week with the Gunners taking on the Eagles at Arsenal’s home turf, Emirates Stadium. Referee Mike Dean will have the final say on the pitch, while the assistants, Eddie Smart and Mark Scholes, will make themselves useful in each half. The fourth official, Simon Hooper, will be on the sidelines while Peter Bankes will be carefully hidden away in the VAR room.
Preview Arsenal Premier League, Oct 18, 2021
Preview Arsenal have endured a topsy-turvy start to the season. However, the Gunners are beginning to find their feet in the murky waters of the Premier League. Manager of the Month (September 2021) Mikel Arteta stuck to his guns amid a wave of speculation and pressure to produce a month of unbeaten run in September for Arsenal. A feat that signaled a turnaround in the season. The 39-year-old came out at the top of a five-man shortlist, edging past Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, Graham Potter, and Dean Smith. Arteta is the first Arsenal manager to earn the award since Arsene Wenger six years ago. Before the international break, Arsenal picked up a goalless draw against the Seagulls at Falmer Stadium. Unbeaten in four games, LWWWD, Arsenal aim to continue their fine run of form when they return on Monday. A calendar day that appears to be a good one for Arsenal at the office. Arsenal has won their last seven Premier League games played on Mondays at the Emirates Stadium, scoring 15 goals and conceding only two. A steady climb up the table sees Arsenal in 11th place, having picked up 10 points after 3W, 1D, & 3L. But an unpredictable Crystal Palace could truncate that climb. Arteta’s worries will remain centered upon Arsenal’s inability to produce in the final third. The Gunners have an average of 0.71 goals per 90, having scored only 5 goals in seven games. Also, ahead of the weekend, no side has conceded more first-half goals in the competition than Arsenal's haul of six. Mikel Arteta’s 4—2—3—1 formation could see the skipper, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, in attack when Arsenal takes on Palace on Monday. Granit Xhaka is ruled out of this fixture.
Preview Crystal Palace Premier League, Oct 18, 2021
Preview Crystal Palace stay in 14th place on the Premier League table, having picked up 7 points from 1W, 4D, & 2L. Patrick Vieira is looking to get back to winning ways after two draws in a row, DWLDD, following the 2-2 draw against Leicester City before the international break. Relatively speaking on Arsenal’s first-half record, no team has scored fewer goals in the first forty-five than the Eagles’ single goal. Patrick Vieira could emerge alongside Palace with the 4—3—3 formation, having Odsonne Édouard in attack, flanked by Jordan Ayew and Wilfried Zaha. On availability, Eberechi Eze and Nathan Ferguson are ruled out of this fixture.