Arsenal vs Crystal Palace, Premier League preview: team news, injuries and suspensions
What is it?
This is the Premier League match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace - a London derby that sees sixth face 12th.
When is it?
The match will be played today, so Saturday January 20, 2018.
What time is kick-off?
It will kick off at the traditional Saturday time of 3pm.
What TV channel is it on?
As is customary with 3pm Saturday kick-offs, the match will not be shown live on TV. Instead you can follow all the action right here when this page turns into our live blog.
What is the team news?
Alexis Sanchez will not be involved for Arsenal as his transfer to Manchester United edges closer. Aaron Ramsey returned to first-team action in last weekend's 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth, but may take his place on the substitutes' bench.
Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud are guaranteed absentees, while the injured trio of Nacho Monreal, Laurent Koscielny and Mesut Ozil could return.
Sead Kolasinac was on the bench against Bournemouth and could be restored to the starting XI with Ainsley Maitland-Niles struggling with illness.
Who should Arsenal pick to face Crystal Palace?
Crystal Palacehave a hefty list of absentees with at least seven players ruled out of the trip to the Emirates. Connor Wickham, Mamadou Sakho, Scott Dann, Jason Puncheon, Jeffrey Schlupp, Andros Townsend and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have all been ruled out.
Yohan Cabaye may be restored to the starting XI after making the bench last weekend, while Joel Ward is also back in training and available after injury.
Who should Crystal Palace pick to face Arsenal?
What are they saying?
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger on the Sanchez transfer:
I've worked on transfers for 30 years, so it is likely to happen. It is now in the next 24 to 48 hours that it will happen or not. But at any moment, at any minute, things can break down. That's how the transfer market is. As long as it's not over the line, you have to accept that it can as well not happen. These kind of things are never guaranteed.
His attitude has been outstanding with us. He was in training yesterday, fully committed and prepared 100 per cent. One thing you cannot question about Alexis Sanchez is his professionalism and his commitment.
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson on Arsenal:
I think they'll be in a very strong state, I think they'll be hungry to prove the people who want to write them off wrong. And unless we prepare ourselves for the very, very best Arsenal team that is out there, we'd be very, very foolish.
Hodgson on his hunt for new January recruits:
I don't think it's unrealistic still to think that if we could get more than four players. If we don't get the four players then our squad's going to be short of numbers apart from anything else.
We're certainly going to be weak in certain areas when we don't have the cover and the competition for places we would like but we're also going to be short of numbers.
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What are the odds?
Arsenal win: 1/2
Draw: 7/2
Crystal Palace win: 11/2
What's our prediction?
Star names leaving, unhappy fans and a top-four fight – at least Arsenal are consistent under Arsene Wenger. The atmosphere inside the Emirates is sure to be tense for the visit of Crystal Palace and Roy Hodgson’s men cannot be underestimated following their turnaround under the former England manager.
Matt Law's prediction: Arsenal 3 Crystal Palace 1
