Adrian Clarke looks at key tactical points and players who can make the difference in Matchweek 17.
Team analysis: Crystal Palace v Arsenal
Disrupting Arsenal’s attacking flow will be a priority for Oliver Glasner’s improving Crystal Palace when they meet the Gunners for the second time in four days.
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The Eagles did a terrific job of stifling Mikel Arteta’s men in the first half of their 3-2 EFL Cup loss at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening.
They limited Arsenal to only three shots before half-time despite having just 29.3 per cent of the ball, and were happy to let their 3-4-2-1 formation drop into a 5-4-1 off the ball.
While Palace were largely outplayed in the second half, with Glasner disappointed in his players for showing "too much respect", they will be encouraged and fired up for revenge at Selhurst Park.
What are Palace best at?
Glasner has instilled an aggressive mindset that ensures Palace are never easy to play against.
They made 30 tackles against Arsenal in midweek, around nine above their season average, so Arteta’s men will expect similar levels of hostility when they meet again on Saturday evening.
Across the 2024/25 campaign so far, Palace have made the joint-highest number of tackles, consistently knocking opponents out of their rhythm, even when results were not going their way.
Wing-backs Daniel Munoz, whose 56 tackles is a competition-high, and Tyrick Mitchell, with 41, are the two most frequent challenge makers, while midfielder Will Hughes (37) is not far behind.
No other top-flight side can match Palace’s output when applying pressure to opponents.
The Eagles are adept at getting tight to their opposition's wide men, and they work tirelessly to crowd their counterparts all over the pitch, especially inside the middle third.
That type of approach has helped them stay competitive in every match this season.
Palace are yet to concede more than two goals in a 2024/25 Premier League match, highlighting just how difficult they can make it for the teams they face.
The impressive off-the-ball data shown in the three tables below will delight Glasner, who will demand that his players try and unsettle Arsenal whenever they have possession at Selhurst Park.
Wing battles could decide matters
Glasner’s 3-4-2-1 suits Munoz and Mitchell, who have become must-picks under his management.
Spanish right-back Munoz, who has been a fantastically vibrant figure – scoring against Manchester City - will miss this contest through suspension though.
Teenager Caleb Kporha is a possible replacement, although the more experienced Nathaniel Clyne is the most likely deputy.
That could be good news for Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, who will not have to track the quantity of forward runs that Munoz makes.
Mitchell v Saka duel
Mitchell’s duel with Bukayo Saka is another interesting one to keep an eye on.
In recent seasons they have had close-fought battles, but the way Saka turned and slipped a clever assist pass into Gabriel Jesus in midweek will have made the Eagles' left-back feel a touch more anxious.
Palace's first-choice wing-backs are both sound defensively, but not at the expense of attacking contributions.
In a season when talisman Eberechi Eze has not been at his very best, Palace have needed others to step up, and both Munoz and Mitchell have obliged.
Mitchell is the better crosser - he has 11 successful deliveries to the six of Munoz - but both offer creativity on the wings.
Most open-play chances created by Palace players in 24/25
| Player | Open-play chances created |
| Eberechi Eze | 17 |
|---|---|
| Tyrick Mitchell | 17 |
| Daniel Munoz | 15 |
| Ismaila Sarr | 15 |
| Jean-Philippe Mateta | 14 |
In a contest where I would expect the hosts to have less than 40 per cent of possession, Munoz's replacement and Mitchell must be decisive when moments present themselves to attack.
Just as they did against Man City and Liverpool, Glasner’s side will get onto the front foot as often as possible.
Does Arteta start Jesus or Havertz?
It is almost 11 months since Jesus scored his last Premier League goal for Arsenal, a clever opener in a 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest.
The Brazilian has made 21 appearances so far this season in all competitions, but until midweek he had only scored once, against Preston North End.
Before his brilliant hat-trick against the Eagles on Wednesday night, Jesus was low on confidence and snatching at chances, with little prospect of him starting at Palace this weekend.
Now, Arteta faces a selection dilemma.
Does he recall a refreshed Kai Havertz to his starting XI, or stick with the player who gave Palace’s back three the runaround in north London?
Jesus’s slippery movement was troublesome for all three of the Eagles' centre-backs at Emirates Stadium.
His team-mates also moved two of the three Palace defenders out of position smartly for his opening two strikes.
Mikel Merino’s positioning high upfield and to the right drew Maxence Lacroix away from the middle, while Marc Guehi was sliding inside from a spot out wide where he had provided Mitchell with cover for Saka.
Jesus sensed he had isolated Trevoh Chalobah in a 1v1 and made a brilliant, arced run to latch onto Martin Odegaard’s pass.
It was a similar story for the Brazilian’s second goal, when Saka lured Guehi and Lacroix towards him, leaving space for Jesus to dart into the box away from a flat-footed Chalobah.
Now with high self-belief, Jesus is possibly the one player Palace do not want to see from the start on Saturday, and he has definitely played his way into Arteta’s thinking.
Havertz, who has scored three goals in his last six appearances for Arsenal, remains Arteta’s first choice, irrespective of who he starts at Selhurst Park.
The German’s all-round game is significantly more rounded, and fresh from a rare midweek breather, he could be relishing this encounter.
Both strikers move along the line well and press with enthusiasm, and there is no question Havertz can give Palace’s defensive trio just as many problems as Jesus with his runs.
Yet on the back of a stellar hat-trick, it does feel as if Jesus has earned the right to face the Eagles once again.
It is a selection call that will provide Arteta with more headaches than it would have done earlier in the week.
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