Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace: Preview, Live Stream and TV Info
Arsenal welcome Crystal Palace to the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday, with the Eagles rejuvenated under manager Roy Hodgson.
The former England boss has steadied the ship at Selhurst Park, and his side have recorded consecutive league victories to lift themselves five points clear of the relegation zone.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger remains under perhaps the severest pressure of his long tenure in north London, and the Frenchman needs three points to calm supporters.
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
Date: Saturday, Jan. 20.
Time: 3 p.m. (GMT)/10 a.m. (ET)
TV: CNBC (U.S.)
Stream: NBC Sports Live, fuboTV
Preview
Arsenal supporters will be wondering what is happening at their club at the moment.
Per Matt Law of the Telegraph, Alexis Sanchez could depart, and the team may be compromised in the months ahead.
Wenger's men are in sixth place, with the gap to leaders Manchester City an astonishing 23 points.
Gunners fans believed their side could compete for the Premier League crown this year due to their absence from the UEFA Champions League, but they've been nowhere near the pace required.
At the current rate, Arsenal will be absent from Europe's biggest club competition for a second consecutive campaign next term, and Wenger's time at the club could be over.
The Frenchman must make the best of a bad situation, but the visit of Palace will be anything but straightforward.
Hodgson has galvanised his team in recent weeks, and the Eagles have quickly gone from relegation certainties to mid-table inhabitants.
Palace remain a side of few goals, only finding the net 21 times in 23 games, but they are now capable of punishing their opponents.
The Selhurst Park outfit have six wins under their belt this season—just one short of ninth-placed Everton—and survival now appears achievable.
Wenger's recently received a three-match touchline ban from the Football Association.
Per BBC Sport, Wenger was punished for verbally abusing referee Mike Dean after the 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion on New Year's Eve. The official awarded a controversial late penalty for handball against Calum Chambers, which incensed the Arsenal boss.
With matters off the pitch making headlines, a shock defeat needs to be avoided.
The Independent (h/t Toby Gannon of The Sun) reported Mesut Ozil's long-term future remains in doubt, with the Germany international out of contract in the summer, further affecting Wenger's grip on his starting XI.
The pressure is off Palace for the time being, and Hodgson's men can relax with little to lose against an anxious host side.
