Arsenal travel to Selhurst Park today, Friday, August 5 to take on Crystal Palace in what will be the curtain raiser for the 2022/2023 season.
Arsenal are hoping to break into the top four this term, after narrowly missing out last term to Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur.
Mikel Arteta has made a flurry of purchases to help make this dream possible, raiding his former side, Manchester City, twice to grasp Gabriel Jesus FW, and Oleksandr Zinchenko LB. Other summer buys are MF Fabio Vieira (Porto), GK Matt Turner (New England Revolution), and FW Marquinhos (Sao Paulo).
Last season, Arsenal managed to finish 5th in the Premier League, got to the third round of the FA Cup, and got knocked out by Liverpool in the semi finals of the Carabao Cup.
On their part, tonight’s host, Crystal Palace have not been quiet in the transfer market either.
After managing to finish 12th in the Premier League, after getting to the FA Cup semi final and after exiting the Carabao Cup as early as the second round last season, Patrick Veiera has just gone and improved his squad. Here’s the list of their incoming players: MF Cheick Doucoure (Lens), DF Chris Richards (Bayern Munich), MF Cormac Austin (Linfield), GK Sam Johnstone (West Bromwich Albion), FW Malcolm Ebiowei (Derby County).
Expectations have grown at Selhurst Park since the former Arsenal captain and former French international took over, as the exciting and quick-passing football he quickly instilled in his side after taking over was a marked improvement on the stodgy and obdurate style that was akin to his predecessor.
Despite losing their best midfielder, Conor Gallagher who was on loan from Chelsea, Palace still have star man, Wilfried Zaha, while Odsonne Edouard and the Nigerian duo of Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise are always available to offer creative sparks.
Palace’s season will be considered a success if they improve on last year’s league finish, and a long cup run will be a perfect icing on the cake.
