Image copyright: Getty Images
2023/24 English Premier League
Matchday 21
Arsenal v Crystal Palace
Emirates Stadium
London, England
Saturday, 20 January 2024
Kick-off is at 14h30
Arsenal will look to get their
Premier League title challenge back on track when they face Crystal Palace in a London derby at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, January 20.
The Gunners endured a slump at the end of 2023, winning just one of their last five games to fall five points behind league leaders Liverpool in fourth place.
A 2-1 defeat to city rivals Fulham on December 31 extended their winless run to three matches and allowed North London neighbours Tottenham to go level with Mikel Arteta's side on 40 points.
Manchester City beat Newcastle 3-2 at St James' Park on January 13 to go three points clear of Arsenal in second position, while also climbing above Aston Villa, who drew 0-0 with Everton at Goodison Park on January 14.
Image copyright: Getty Images
The Eagles ended the calendar year on a positive note after a 3-1 victory over Brentford at Selhurst Park on December 30 arrested an eight-match winless streak.
Roy Hodgson's side opened up a five-point gap to the relegation zone and find themselves eight points outside the top 10 in 14th spot.
Palace could go above the Cottagers (13th) on goal difference with a first triumph over Arsenal in four games, having lost three on the spin in this fixture.
Arteta believes the Gunners need a mental reset after their poor run of results to close out the calendar year, although he admits performances are not the issue.
"It is very difficult but if the team is getting hammered and not playing well, and not deserving to win football matches I would be much more worried," the Spaniard said.
"I am worried because I love winning and we have to win many more games. At the moment that is the thing we have to change and probably what has to be reset is up here [mentally]."
Hodgson insisted he never lost faith in his players during their poor stretch in November and December, and believes they did the best they could under the circumstances.
"We think what we've done is we've dealt with the situation that's been put in front of us as best we can," he said. "We, the coaching staff, never lost belief in the team, and [belief] that this team is a good team, and will do well, and are certainly not relegation candidates.
"But, on the other hand you are a relegation candidate when you start slipping down the table and there's not many points between you and the teams below you...
"When you're not getting points or when you're slipping down the table, I'm afraid you're going to come in for negative criticism. That's the way it is. But we have to keep... some sort of balance and perspective about it."
Head-to-Head (Last Five Premier League Meetings)
Matches - 5
Arsenal - 3
Palace - 1
Draws - 1
Premier League Matchday 21 fixtures:
Saturday, January 20
14h30: Arsenal v Crystal Palace
19h30: Brentford v Nottingham Forest
Sunday, January 21
16h00: Sheffield United v West Ham United
18h30: Bournemouth v Liverpool
Monday, January 22
21h45: Brighton & Hove Albion v Wolverhampton Wanderers
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