ARSENAL VS C PALACE

ARSENAL (4-2-3-1)

SZCZESNY, SAGNA, KOSCIELNY, MERTESACKER, MONREAL, WILSHERE, ARTETA, GNABRY, OZIL, CAZORLA, GIROUD

PALACE (4-4-1-1)

JEROME, CHAMAKH, PUNCHEON, JEDINAK, WARD, BOLASIE, MOXEY, DELANEY, GABBIDON, MARIAPPA, SPERONI Arsenal dropped league points for the first time this year since drawing 0-0 with Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium, on December 23, the Gunners had won seven league and cup games in a row before drawing 2-2 at Southampton on Tuesday.

Arsenal led 2-1 at St Mary’s Stadium but conceded a 54thminute equaliser and, with 10 minutes remaining, they were reduced to ten men when Mathieu Flamini picked up a red card. As a result, Flamini is banned for the visit of Crystal Palace as Arsenal look to extend their unbeaten home run in the Barclays Premier League to 11.

Palace’s recovery from probable relegation fodder to a team capable of finishing mid table continued when they beat Hull City on Tuesday thanks to a goal from Jason Puncheon. That was the Eagles’ fifth victory in 10 league games, an impressive return led for most of that period by new manager Tony Pulis.

Arsenal are unbeaten in their last six Premier League games against Palace, winning four and drawing two. The last clash came in October, at Selhurst Park, when manager Ian Holloway had just been sacked and Keith Millen was in caretaker charge.