When Arsenal plays Crystal Palace to open the Premier League season on FRIDAY, all eyes will be on them because they don't want a repeat of the last time.
Brentford humiliated the Gunners on the first day of the 2021/22 season. By the first international break, they had given up nine goals while scoring none, placing them at the bottom of the standings.
The arrival of summer signings Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko, though, has given the Arsenal camp newfound optimism.
However, in their last 10 meetings, the North London team has only defeated Crystal Palace three times.
Patrick Vieira seems to be having goalkeeper troubles ahead of the huge opening clash against his former side as a player.
Jack Butland's broken hand has ruled him out of the clash but Sam Johnstone is close to recovering from his thigh problem.
Mikel Arteta has been forced to be without the quartet of Kieran Tierney, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Fabio Vieira and Emile Smith Rowe.
But the Arsenal boss confirmed after the thrashing on Sevilla, that 'most' of them will be ready.
Arteta said: "They’ll have to go through what they need to this week and then hopefully we’ll have them available. “They are lacking minutes but we’ll have to build that up like any other injury that we get during the season.”
Predicted Lineups
Jack Butland will miss the opening match of the 2022/23 season through injury with summer signing Sam Johnstone also on the sidelines. This means Vicente Guita will start as Palace's goalkeeper against Arsenal.
Michael Olise is also an injury doubt for the Eagles with James McArthur unavailable. Cheick Doucoure could be favoured by Vieira at the base of the Palace midfield to prevent Arsenal from imposing themselves in the centre of the pitch.
Jesus is expected to start up front for Arsenal with support from Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka in the wide areas. Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu are injury doubts which could see Oleksandr Zinchenko selected at left-back.
Fabio Vieira and Emile Smith Rowe are also struggling to be fit for the first Premier League fixture of the season, meaning Arteta is likely to stick with his tried and tested midfield trio of Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka and Martin Odegaard.
Arsenal predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Ramsdale (GK) — Zinchenko, Gabriel, White, Tomiyasu — Thomas, Xhaka — Martinelli, Odegaard, Saka — Jesus.
I therefore stand in this prediction to say Arsenal will win by three(3) goals to nil.
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