Arsenal vs Crystal Palace. Premier League.
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Arsenal v Crystal Palace preview: Sam Allardyce searching for first win as Palace boss
Sunday 1 January 2017 16:03, UK
Crystal Palace manager Sam Allardyce is looking for his first win in charge of the club against fourth-placed Arsenal on Super Sunday.
Sam Allardyce took over from Alan Pardew before Christmas but ended 2016 with a 1-1 draw at Watford.
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Arsenal have faltered in recent weeks after a strong period in the run up to the festive fixtures, needing a late winner from Olivier Giroud to beat West Brom 1-0 following defeats to Everton and Manchester City.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is not surprised Crystal Palace brought in Allardyce because of the ex-England manager's "quality and experience".
"The position in the Premier League has become vital for everybody to stay in the league," Wenger said in his pre-match press conference.
"It has become an extremely big problem for everybody and when teams look for managers he was one out there who had the experience and the quality."
Team news
Theo Walcott is ruled out for Arsenal as he has a small calf injury, while reported Palace target Kieran Gibbs is also unavailable with a knee injury.
Shkodran Mustafi is fit and available following a hamstring injury and Danny Welbeck's return from a long-term knee problem is progressing well.
Damien Delaney is suspended for Crystal Palace's trip to north London.
But fellow defender James Tomkins could return after a thigh injury while midfielders James McArthur and Joe Ledley are also back in contention.
Striker Loic Remy has resumed training but needs a couple of reserve matches before he is considered, while Connor Wickham, Bakary Sako, Pape Souare and Steve Mandanda remain long-term absentees.
Match stats
Arsenal have won eight of their last 11 Premier League games against Crystal Palace, drawing the other three.
Crystal Palace's only Premier League win against Arsenal came in October 1994 at Highbury, as John Salako scored twice in a 2-1 victory.
This will be the 200th Premier League game contested at the Emirates - Arsenal have won 129, drawn 47 and lost 23 of the 199 currently played there.
Palace have won just one of their last seven league games away from home on New Year's Day, beating Portsmouth in 1996 (D1 L5).
By contrast, Arsenal haven't lost a home league game on New Year's Day since 1985 against Tottenham (W6 D2)
Giroud has three Premier League goals against the Eagles, but all of those have been scored at Selhurst Park.
Indeed, Allardyce's sides at Emirates have conceded 26 goals - the most by an opposing manager there in the Premier League.
Merson's prediction
I worry for Arsenal. They fell over the line against West Brom, thanks to Giroud. But the good thing I like about them, if they're struggling, they put the ball into the box - unlike the last few years when they played it around like a power play in ice hockey, going from side to side.
At least they put it in for Giroud and have a Plan B. But I see Palace causing them major problems, Arsenal won't be able to live with Christian Benteke and they have pace as well.
It will take Allardyce a while to get used to Palace, but two away games in a row is perfect because he doesn't have the pressure of having to win a match.
Sam is someone who will win, lose, draw, win, lose, draw, and before you know it, they'll be out of trouble. For me, this is his biggest job in club football so far. It's a great job, especially with the calibre of players he has at his disposal. He can't believe his luck.
Arsenal have to win. Look at the table. They lose two games on the trot and they're fighting for fourth, and they were 1-0 up in the first one they lost, about to go top of the league. Draws are just no good anymore, because these teams are ruthless and will run away with it.
PAUL PREDICTS: 3-2 (25/1 with Sky Bet)
Betting
Arsenal are Sky Bet's 1/3 favourites to kick off 2017 with a New Year's Day victory in a London derby against Sam Allardyce's Crystal Palace, who are 15/2 to win at the Emirates and 17/4 to take a draw. The Gunners are 21/10 to win by three or more goals, and 100/30 to win 3-0, 3-1 or 3-2.
No surprise to see Arsenal's main man Alexis Sanchez head the first goalscorer betting at 11/4, with Olivier Giroud (3/1) and Lucas Perez (4/1) also prominent. Christian Benteke at 9/1 is seen as Palace's likeliest route to the opening goal.
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