Opposition briefing: Everything you need to know about Arsenal

Match previews

9 hours ago

Crystal Palace welcome Arsenal to Selhurst Park on Saturday, 21st December (17:30 GMT) - find out all you need to know about our latest opponents below!

Factfile

Manager: Mikel Arteta
Position: 3rd
Nickname: Gunners
Ground: Emirates Stadium
Founded: 1886 (138 years ago)

What’s the story?

After pushing Manchester City to the wire over the past two seasons, there was a belief that this year might be Arsenal’s year. Mikel Arteta has overseen a revolution since his arrival, but needs his side to get over the line in a major competition to have something to show for his efforts.

They have been unable to capitalise on Man City’s collapse this season, however, with Liverpool and Chelsea streaking away at the top as Arsenal drop points to Everton and Fulham. With the Premier League table still extremely congested at the top, there is plenty of time to get back into the title race, but the pressure for points is well and truly on.

Having lifting the FA Cup in his first full season at the club, Arteta has been unable to deliver silverware at the Emirates, despite building a squad packed with star quality. Although Palace led early on in the League Cup clash on Wednesday night, the Gunners ultimately prevailed and now will have their sights set on the final at Wembley in March 2025.

Arsenal have spent heavily in recent seasons and could be in the market in January once again, as they look to claw back Liverpool’s early lead. Their last January signings back in 2023 – Leandro Trossard, Jakub Kiwior, Jorginho – almost pushed the title race in their favour, so could there be similar additions in 2025?

The boss

Mikel Arteta sits third in the list of longest-serving Premier League managers, with only Manchester City's Pep Guardiola and Brentford boss Thomas Frank already in place when Arteta joined the Gunners in December 2019.

An FA Cup triumph in his first season followed, with a 2-1 win over London rivals Chelsea at Wembley. Since then Arteta has twice taken the Gunners close to a first Premier League title since 2004 - but has narrowly lost out to Manchester City two years on the bounce.

The Spaniard previously enjoyed a five-year spell as a player at the Emirates, signed by Arsene Wenger in 2011 after successful spells in British football at both Rangers and Everton.

Boot in both camps

Where else to start but with Premier League legend Ian Wright? Wrighty is a bona fide Palace and Arsenal legend.

With 118 goals in 277 games, the England striker is one of only nine players in club history to have reached a century of strikes. Wright would make the move to North London in 1991 for a club record £2.5million, only to go on and break the Arsenal club goalscoring record. Even today, only Thierry Henry has more goals in an Arsenal shirt.

Other notable players to have represented both clubs include Ashley Cole, Emmanuel Adebayor and Marouane Chamakh. Current members of the Eagles squad Rob Holding and Matt Turner also previously enjoyed spells at Arsenal.

Record against Palace

The Eagles will be looking for revenge after Wednesday's narrow defeat at the Emirates, and three points on Saturday would mark a first victory against Arsenal since a famous 3-0 win at Selhurst Park back in April 2022. Then Palace boss Patrick Vieira enjoyed a landmark win against the club he made his name at as a player, with Jean-Philippe Mateta, Jordan Ayew and Wilfried Zaha on target.

Since then five games against the Gunners have ended in defeat.

Did you know?

Arsenal had a few different identities before eventually arriving at their current name. Originally named Dial Square Football Club when formed in 1886 they - just like Palace - were originally South Londoners, created in Woolwich by 16 munitions workers.

In January of the following year they were renamed to Royal Arsenal, playing at Plumstead Common.

They then became the first London club to go professional in 1891, before renaming again to Woolwich Arsenal in 1893 and joining the Football League.

They didn't cross the river northbound until 1913, moving into a new stadium at Highbury after the move was pushed through by then chairman Sir Henry Norris. Following this relocation, the club replaced 'Woolwich' in their name with 'The', known as The Arsenal.

Later, under the club's legendary manager Herbert Chapman, they dropped the definite article from the club's name, gradually becoming known simply as Arsenal.

Match details

Saturday, 21st December
17:30 GMT
Selhurst Park
Sky Sports
Live audio commentary on Palace TV+

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