Arsenal and Crystal Palace face off in the Premier League on Sunday.placeholder image
Arsenal and Crystal Palace face off in the Premier League on Sunday. | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Arsenal and Crystal Palace face off in an eagerly-anticipated London derby on Sunday
Arsenal and Crystal Palace have been two of the biggest success stories of the opening months of the Premier League season, and the two London sides will go head-to-head at the Emirates on Sunday with a point to prove.
The match will see Eberechi Eze face his former side for the first time as an Arsenal player, while the Eagles responded to losing their unbeaten record prior to the international break by fighting back to earn a 3-3 draw against Bournemouth thanks to a Jean-Philippe Mateta hat-trick, in one of the matches of the season so far.
Both sides will be without several players for the contest, with Arteta and Oliver Glasner revealing fitness updates for their squads during the week.
Arsenal without four players for Crystal Palace clash
Martin Odegaard - Out: The Gunners captain is one of four big-name stars who will be unavailable for the match, though Arteta’s side have no fresh doubts for the game. Odegaard picked up his latest injury in the first half against West Ham United before the international break and is expected to be out until late November, possibly returning for the North London Derby on November 23.
Noni Madueke - Out: The England winger has been out since after the Manchester City draw at the Emirates with a knee injury, though he is edging closer to a return. He might return along with Odegaard after the international break. Arteta shared a recent update: “He's getting closer as well. He’s going to start very soon to do some running and stuff, and then again, let’s see how that reacts.”
Kai Havertz - Out: Required knee surgery and has not featured since the opening-day victory at Old Trafford. Arteta has expressed a desire not to rush back the 26-year-old, who will remain on the sidelines for this one.
Gabriel Jesus - Out: Jesus has spent the best part of a year out with an ACL injury sustained back in January. But there has been promising progress, as he told the Standard this week: “I’m feeling great. My knee is responding very well. So now I’m looking forward to being around the team again soon, to come back to do what I love to do. When you can see the end it’s important you don’t push too hard, keep my feet on the floor, and then as soon as the time comes, I will be ready.”
Three players out for Palace as they travel to the Emirates
Cheick Doucoure - Out: The Senegalese has been out since back in January after knee surgery. He will hope to be back in action soon after an injury-ravaged time at Selhurst Park.
Caleb Kporha - Out: The 19-year-old full-back remains out with a back injury. The academy graduate will hope to return to the first-team picture soon.
Chadi Riad - Out: The defender is out with an ACL injury, but Glasner revealed this week that he will be back in training soon: “We have Chadi Riad, who will come back in the next two weeks and start training with us.”
“We’ve no injury concerns – all players are fit, all players look really good, and are in good shape, so we’re ready for our first home game in the Conference League,” Glasner said before the 1-0 loss. "We will play the best team [against Larnaca]. That makes sense for us, and [then] prepare for Arsenal."
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