As Arsenal prepare to face Crystal Palace in another London derby, there’s a significant change from the corresponding fixture in the 2022/23 Premier League season. This time around, Mikel Arteta will not be facing Patrick Vieira, who was dismissed from his role as Crystal Palace manager. In his place, Palace’s U21 head coach Paddy McCarthy will take temporary charge, supported by Darren Powell and Dean Kiely.
Palace have been boosted by the return to training of midfielders James McArthur and Will Hughes after recent illness, offering McCarthy more options in a crucial period. However, McCarthy won’t be able to call upon Albert Sambi Lokonga, who is ineligible to face his parent club, Arsenal, while Sam Johnstone and Nathan Ferguson remain sidelined.
The goalkeeper position remains a question mark, with Vicente Guaita racing against time to recover from a hamstring injury. If unavailable, 19-year-old Joe Whitworth, who impressed in his Premier League debut against Brighton, could retain his spot.
Arsenal, who have been perfect in recent matchups, will look to maintain their momentum, but the unpredictability of a managerial change at Palace could make for an interesting contest.
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