The parallels between this season's Premier League opener and last campaign's curtain-raiser are eerily similar for Arsenal. An away London derby, on a Friday night, under the lights, with the world watching. We all know how it turned out last year at Brentford, but this time around there is cautious optimism that they can avoid history repeating itself.
"We are all enthusiastic," said Mikel Arteta when asked in his pre-match press conference about the mood of his camp. "We had the pre-season we wanted, it was well organised, we had good results, good preparation good performances, but now the ball starts to roll tomorrow evening in a completely different context and against a Premier League team and we know what to expect there. It’s true we have a high level of energy and ambition to have a successful season and we have to show that on the pitch tomorrow night."
Despite having ultimately failed in their goal of reaching the Champions League last season the atmosphere around Arsenal is irresistibly positive. The arrivals of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko in particular have plugged serious gaps in the squad, while pre-season yielded six victories from a possible seven, with 24 goals scored along the way. Now though, comes a real test.
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Selhurst Park was where the Gunners' top four dream came crumbling down last season, and Arteta admits that the scars from that harrowing Monday night in March are still pretty raw for his side. Patrick Vieira's men have had something of a hex over Arsenal in recent seasons, and getting the season off to a winning start will not be easy.
A re-energised Aaron Ramsdale should be a good first step in the right direction though. The England 'keeper appeared to lose some of the confidence and consistency that made him such a fan favourite in the early part of his debut season, but in pre-season he has looked back to his line-splitting best with the ball at his feet.
That assurance may well have been helped by the solidity of the back four in front of him. Gabriel had a torrid night in this fixture last season just days after becoming a father, and will be keen to put things right this time around. His chances of doing so will be boosted by the partnership he appears to have quickly formed with William Saliba since his return from a loan spell at Marseille. It has been a long time coming but the Frenchman is set to finally make his Premier League bow in what will be one of its most hostile atmospheres on Friday night. With the unflappable nature of the way he's carried himself in preseason though, you'd back him to come through it unscathed.
Saliba's introduction into the back four means that it is likely Ben White will move over to the right side of defence where he has started the last two preseason friendlies. Despite Mikel Arteta's insistence, it is unlikely that Takehiro Tomiyasu will be fit enough to start, and so the England international will be given the unenviable task of silencing Wilfried Zaha.
It is a similar case on the other side of the back four where Kieran Tierney is unlikely to make the starting XI after failing to play a minute since being hauled off at the half-hour mark against Nurnberg nearly a month ago. This opens the door for Oleksandr Zinchenko to make his first competitive start since his arrival from Manchester City.
In midfield, injuries mean much of the tension over who might play in this fixture has been nipped in the bud too. Fabio Vieira or Emile Smith Rowe could have potentially been used as either of the eights in front of Thomas Partey, but given their respective fitness struggles it seems almost certain to be Granit Xhaka on the left and newly appointed captain Martin Odegaard on the right.
Last season Palace snuffed Arsenal out as an attacking force by man marking Alexandre Lacazette who spent much of the game sinking deeper and deeper to try and link play due to his inability to spin in behind. The Eagles back four will not have it so easy this time around.
The irrepressible and unpredictable Gabriel Jesus will leave them not knowing whether they are coming or going. His ability to switch roles with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli in a fluid front line, should, on paper at least, give Arsenal the threat they require to claim maximum points in this match.
Arsenal predicted XI vs Crystal Palace - Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.
