Will Crystal Palace be able to stop rampant Arsenal?

Seven victories in the last eight games represent a wonderful run of form for the Gunners who have hit a purple patch at exactly the right time of the season. The high standard of football being played resembles Arsenal at their irresistible best during the first half of the 2013/2014 campaign, but as we all know how the second half unfolded in front of our eyes, there is already the hope that the team do no got off the rails and face missing out on the top four.

Arsene Wenger has made it his legacy to qualify for the Champions League in every season since he took control in 1996, and while the players have responded wonderfully to slight alterations in the style of play and positions, there is no margin for error as the 2014/2015 season enters the business stage. Confidence may be brimming through the squad, but a trip to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace will be the test that Arsenal have to stand up to. The Gunners may be slight favourites to come away with all three points and stay in the six-horse race for third and fourth spot in the Premier League, though it will require another top performance if Arsenal are to win what could be a difficult game.

In-form Gunners

Form has proven to mean very little in a season where any Premier League team can beat anyone on their day, home or away, but four victories from the last five league fixtures makes Arsenal one of the form teams. The comfortable 2-0 victory against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup Fifth Round was accomplished through scintillating football that was required to get through what many expected to be an extremely tough game; the same approach may be required again at Selhurst Park, as taking control of the game from the start could be the best way to stifle Crystal Palace and nullify their attacking threats. While Gabriel Paulista impressed in his full debut for the club and Alexis Sanchez showed encouraging signs following his injury layoff, Olivier Giroud received all the plaudits for a superb performance that, albeit against Championship opponents, showed that he could be the man to fire Arsenal into the top four. Wenger may also be able to call upon Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for the game at Crystal Palace following a groin injury to offer yet another attacking option, but the game comes too soon for Aaron Ramsey who remains with long-term absentees Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Debuchy and Abou Diaby on the sidelines.

High-flying Eagles

From looking like a side destined for relegation at one stage of the season, the appointment of Palace favourite Alan Pardew has reaped instant dividends. Five victories in their last eight games in all competitions resembles an excellent run of form for Crystal Palace who have been completed transformed, with Pardew’s ability to get the very best from his players symbolic in the way they have played in recent weeks. Victories against Tottenham and Southampton in recent weeks shows that they should not be under-estimated by any means, particularly in front of a vociferous home crowd which provide superb support for the players to feed off and put in a performance for them. Fixtures against teams in and around them in the bottom half of the table will carry considerably more significant to Pardew and Palace, but a home game against Arsenal is an excellent opportunity to showcase their qualities and show they are heading in the right direction under their new manager. Pardew’s hopes of getting one over the Gunners may be aided by the possible return from injury of Mike Jedinak and James McArthur who are key to how Palace play, although Arsenal loanee Yaya Sanogo is not only ineligible, but is also ruled out with a hamstring injury. The Frenchman joins Jerome Thomas and Jonathan Williams on the treatment table, with Wenger hopeful that his young striker can continue to impress after Arsenal walk away from Selhurst Park with all three points.

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