Arsenal have been handed a huge injury boost ahead of a crucial clash against Crystal Palace in the Premier League with two stars set to return.
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners host a struggling Palace side on Sunday who are managerless after sacking former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira on Friday.
His dismissal came with Palace yet to win a single match in 2023 leaving them just three points above 18th-placed Bournemouth who have a game in hand.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the table Arsenal continue to battle for their first Premier League title since the 2004 invincibles season.
Arteta will be pleased with the squad he has available for Sunday’s game with two stars set to return from injury.
Leandro Trossard and Oleksandr Zinchenko are both expected to be fit which is welcome news following the injuries sustained in their Europa League penalty shootout defeat to Sporting CP on Thursday.
As reported by Football London (via Ryan Taylor), despite late worries the pair will be ready along with Gabriel Jesus who could be in line for his first Premier League start since before the World Cup.
Victory on Sunday will see the Gunners extend their lead at the top to eight points with Manchester City not featuring in the league this weekend due to the FA Cup quarter-finals taking place.
Supporters will be disappointed Arsenal bowed out of Europe this week but it now means they can put all their focus into winning the title.
Guardiola’s City remain in three different competitions and whilst they will retain a game in hand against West Ham, going into the international break eight points behind rather than five wouldn’t be great psychologically.
However, it’s a situation they will be used to and they have won several titles before whilst going all the way in other competitions.
Crystal Palace are facing an injury crisis ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash against Arsenal.
The recent fortunes of Arsenal and Palace could not be more contrasting.
The Gunners are currently at the Premier League summit, some five points clear of their nearest challengers Manchester City.
Mikel Arteta’s side are just 11 games from claiming the club’s first league title since 2004’s Invincibles.
Meanwhile, Palace are in woeful form. While they have sat in 12th position for over two months, the Eagles are without a win this calendar year and are now just three points from the relegation places.
On Wednesday they fell to a 1-0 defeat against bitter rivals Brighton, the south coast side’s first win in the fixture since 2019.
Palace’s injury crisis
Next up for the Eagles is a tricky away trip to the Emirates, with an Arsenal win having the potential to spell the end of Patrick Vieira’s tenure in the Palace dugout.
Mikel Arteta’s side are just 11 games from claiming the club’s first league title since 2004’s Invincibles.
And the south Londoners are facing a goalkeeping injury crisis for the encounter against the table toppers.
Against Brighton 19-year-old academy graduate, Joe Whitworth, made his Palace debut after first-choice Vicente Guaita suffered a hamstring injury in training, and back-up Sam Johnstone was sidelined with a calf issue.
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