Yet although last season’s curtain raiser went the way of Mikel Arteta’s Gunners – who went on to narrowly miss out on the Premier League title – those superstitious among you can take heart.
For whereas last year Palace versus Arsenal fell on a Friday night, this season’s contest falls on Monday, concluding the weekend’s action – and Palace’s record on Monday Night Football, particularly against higher-flying sides, is relatively favourable.
In our 10 Premier League seasons since promotion, Palace have played on a Monday evening on 25 occasions – three of which, all in the last six years, were against Arsenal. Our results in their games? Two wins and a draw, all at Selhurst Park.
Indeed, of those 25 Monday night games – a total which excludes three Christmas-time afternoon kick-offs – Palace are unbeaten in our last six, our most recent being the 1-1 draw against Liverpool at Anfield last summer.
Still not feeling superstitious? Check out five of Palace’s most magical Mondays to warm you up for the occasion…
