by Bulldog Drummond
The BBC is giving a prediction of a modest 2-0 win to Arsenal for this game, but they do also note that Lacazette could score for the fourth game in a row, which would indeed be rather jolly. But they do also note that in all the meetings between the two clubs Arsenal have never failed to score when they are at home.
On the other hand we might also note that Bukayo Saka could become the first teenager to score or set up a goal in four straight Premier League games since Cesc Fabregas of Arsenal in April 2007. Exciting thoughts, especially after the mountain of negativity the club has been barraged with in recent days.
Even the Guardian is upbeat for this game noting that Partey and Gabriel will both be available for the match and what a difference they ought to make. Thankfully there is not a single mention of Partey and Gabriel returning to a “bloated squad”. That, I suspect, is left for other newspapers.
In fact the last time we won four Premier League victories in a row was
| Date | Game | Res | Score | Competition |
| 25 Aug 2018 | Arsenal v West Ham United | W | 3-1 | Premier League |
| 23 Sep 2018 | Arsenal v Everton | W | 2-0 | Premier League |
| 29 Sep 2018 | Arsenal v Watford | W | 2-0 | Premier League |
| 22 Oct 2018 | Arsenal v Leicester City | W | 3-1 | Premier League |
On the other hand the correspondents of the media are showing infinitely more delight in the fact that if Palace do score that will be the 12th consecutive home match in the Premier League in which we have conceded. I won’t go all the way back to last season, but here’s our contribution this season.
| Date | Match | Result | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Sep 2020 | Arsenal v West Ham United | W | 2-1 | Premier League |
| 04 Oct 2020 | Arsenal v Sheffield United | W | 2-1 | Premier League |
| 25 Oct 2020 | Arsenal v Leicester City | L | 0-1 | Premier League |
| 08 Nov 2020 | Arsenal v Aston Villa | L | 0-3 | Premier League |
| 29 Nov 2020 | Arsenal v Wolverhampton Wanderers | L | 1-2 | Premier League |
| 13 Dec 2020 | Arsenal v Burnley | L | 0-1 | Premier League |
| 16 Dec 2020 | Arsenal v Southampton | D | 1-1 | Premier League |
| 26 Dec 2020 | Arsenal v Chelsea | W | 3-1 | Premier League |
An interesting point about Palace that the BBC do come up with is the fact that they “have only kept three clean sheets in 26 Premier League games since football resumed after the coronavirus suspension.”
But of course, we all know who their main threat will be: Wilfried Zaha who we were a dead cert to sign apparently in each of the last three windows and yet didn’t, which was seemingly Arsenal’s fault (no questioning anywhere of whether the journalists just made the whole thing up).
Still, we won’t be able to buy him now because there will be no room in our bloated squad. (See Surely it is the journalists who are bloated not the Arsenal squad) Zaha we are told has been involved in almost half of Palace’s 22 league goals this season, scoring eight and providing two assists.
And finally, for now, the result of the results. A win for Arsenal by one goal will have us staying where we are. But a win by two and a defeat of West Ham will have us move up to 10th. A defeat for Arsenal would see us slip down to 12th or 13th. A win for Palace could see them move up one or two places.
On the other hand if Gabriel and Partey play and do well, and if some of the youngsters shine once more, it will hardly be noticed because it will be an “expected victory” and we will be told yet again that we are going to buy three or four players, but will have to sell lots. Because our squad is bloated (“Arsenal line up summer move for Shakhtar Donetsk’s Manor Solomon” is the latest idea – that is also from the Guardian).
Next: the line up.
- Arsenal v Palace facts and figures: two clubs totally balanced
- How Arsenal got into this mess, and the one thing they must now do.
