Sam Allardyce will face one his biggest challenges of the season in only his second match in charge of Crystal Palace. A trip to the Emirates is looming large for the team who will look to get 2017 off to a good start.
Palace have one of the worst records this year with a meagre 6 wins in almost 366 days. It is a miracle that Alan Pardew managed to stretch the timeline of his managerial post this long. Having failed to form a proper unified team despite having the funds and the appropriate personnel, it has been a monumental failure for the former Newcastle United manager who has been known for his dance moves more than his managerial repute this year, understandably.
Big Sam largely stuck to the script, employing an 11 which should primarily be considered his best 11 amongst the current crop although Ledley and McArthur were missing in action. He will be faced with a bigger dilemma now with Delaney suspended and Tomkins injured, which leaves them with only 1 recognised centre-back option in the team.
They will be facing an Arsenal team, who after a couple of hiccups have got back on track and will be confident of seeing off Crystal Palace at home.
Palace have the players to cause an upset but unfortunately, Arsenal have players to negate anything of that sort.
PREDICTED CRYSTAL PALACE XI VS ARSENAL (4-2-3-1)
DEFENCE
Hennessey will be in goal with Mandanda still out for a minimum of 2 more weeks. He will have to be on top of his game for his team to have any chance of keeping Arsenal down to the bare minimum. Kelly is likely to be at right-back and has to deal with Sanchez which in itself is one of the toughest jobs.
The centre-back pairing is extremely hard to guess with Fryers the other defender left amongst the lot. Dann might line-up with Fryers at centre-back and Ward will be at left-back.
MIDFIELD
The duo of Ledley and McArthur are rated doubtful but will have a chance of making a comeback. Yohan Cabaye looks nailed on but Flamini might concede his place to either one of Ledley or McArthur. In the No.10 role, Jason Puncheon might continue and he needs to do better than how he has performed this season.
ATTACK
Zaha will be on the left flank and will look to give a good account of himself on the pitch while Townsend will be on the right flank. Benteke will have an opportunity to redeem himself after missing a crucial penalty last match.
