Arsenal was shocked on the season’s opening weekend, and will hope to avoid two straight defeats to start the season as they travel to Crystal Palace at 8:30am ET on Sunday, live on NBCSN or live online at NBC Sports Live Extra.
The Gunners have not lost their first two games to start a league season since the inaugural season of the Premier League 23 years ago, but Selhurst Park has become an increasingly difficult place to play.
Palace eviscerated newly promoted Norwich City in the opening week, dominating them on the break away from home, but it will be interesting to see if the club deploys the same tactics in front of their home fans.
Their pace allows them to play this style, with Wilfried Zaha, James Puncheon, and Yannick Bolasie all possessing high-level speed to support Connor Wickham up front in the striker’s first start for his new club. They have a solid base with Yohan Cabaye behind them as well, but captain and fellow holding midfielder Mile Jedinak fails to start for the second straight match. Marouane Chamakh and Julian Speroni are the only injured Eagles, the pair with longer-term problems.
WATCH LIVE: CRYSTAL PALACE VS ARSENAL ON NBC SPORTS LIVE EXTRA
The Gunners have responded in turn by bringing in Alexis Sanchez after sitting him in week one due to fitness concerns. In turn, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – who had a fantastic preseason – sits on the bench. Hector Bellerin makes the starting lineup after injury concerns, but Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky, and Danny Welbeck are all out.
LINEUPS
Crystal Palace: McCarthy; Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souaré; McArthur, Cabaye; Zaha, Puncheon, Bolasie; Wickham.
Subs: Hennessey, Mariappa, Jedinak, Mutch, Lee, Bamford, Murray.
Arsenal: Cech; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Ramsey; Cazorla, Ozil, Alexis; Giroud
Subs: Ospina, Debuchy, Gibbs, Gabriel, Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott.
