- The Arsenal referee today and Palace’s escapeds in Europe
- Arsenal v Palace: what’s going on in the background
By Tony Attwood
As I am sure you might have noticed, the media wants NEWS, not everyday chit chat. Each day must bring forth something NEW. And preferably something that can be published in capital letters. (I could have put that in CAPITAL LETTERS) but I thought it would be rather obvious, so I didn’t.)
In media football terms, that means Arsenal are either in crisis or the great team of the century. Ordinary mid-table is most certainly not news. Which is why it is interesting to give a rundown, as we often do, of the table in previous seasons at this particular point. Which today of course, means after eight games.
As you can see below, it is the second time in seven seasons we’ve been top at this moment, although in two seasons we actually had more points than now. But we do have the best Arsenal defence ever during this spell. And really, do look at that leap between 2021 and 2022.
| Pos | Season | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal 2025 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 3 | 12 | 19 |
| 3 | Arsenal2024 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 17 |
| 2 | Arsenal 2023* | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 6 | 10 | 20 |
| 1 | Arsenal 2022 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 8 | 12 | 21 |
| 12 | Arsenal 2021 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 12 | -5 | 11 |
| 11 | Arsenal 2020 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 10 | -1 | 12 |
| 3 | Arsenal 2019 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 15 |
So we can see the great steps forward of recent years. But there is a second reason for showing the 2019 table after eight games, as now.
That is because in sixth place, just one point behind Arsenal on 8 October 2019, was Crystal Palace were sixth, although that season they finished below half way in the league (14th to be exact). This is the first season where it looks like they might finish in the top half of the table – they are currently fifth.
Elsewhere, the media are noticing that Arsenal’s three goals conceded could mean that the club will break Chelsea’s record of 15 conceded in 2004-05. In all competitions this season, it’s nine clean sheets in 12 games.
So, do Chelsea have an attack to beat the best defence in the league? Perhaps not, as they are halfway down the goal-scoring table this season.
And so now, as the game approaches, what of the team? The big question is not just “is anyone injured”, but rather will there be more rotation in the starting XI..
The injury list is Jesus, Odegaard, Madueke, Havertz, Gabriel. Only the latter stands even a slight chance of playing. So this is the team from the Metro. For reasons beyond me they have printed it the wrong way around, but that is only a convention so I suppose they can.
Eze Gyokres Saka
Rice Zubimendi Merino
Calafiori Gabriel Saliba Timber
Raya
Sports Mole print their team the normal way around, so for a direct comparison, you could turn your monitor upside or stand on your head. But if you can’t be bothered, two of the back four are different, one of the mid-three is different and one of the forwards is different. It is a long time since I have seen such a variety of selections from the media.
Raya;
White, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly;
Eze, Zubimendi, Rice;
Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli
As for the Stadard they offer yet another variation
Raya;
Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori;
Eze, Zubimendi, Rice;
Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard
It is indeed a wonderful testimony to the recruitment that has been taking place at Arsenal that we can have this level of flexibility while still having four or five players out (depending on which site you read).
SkySports can’t be arsed with a team, but they do give us a 2-0 prediction for Arsenal to win. This probably reflects their awareness that Palace have the fifth best defence in the League and only the tenth best attack, so there is quite a chance that they will go for a 0-0 draw, or if they do manage to sneak a goal, they will put up the drawbridge pretty damn quick.
We shall see. I’d say 3-0 to the Arsenal because after Arsenal get their second, I think Palace will wilt.
.
