08:18 PM BST
17 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 0
A shaky few minutes for Arsenal. Ben White slipped in the box, and there were half-hearted and unfounded appeals for a penalty. The Palace nipped it to win it high and Eze saw a shot from range saved quite comfortably by Ramsdale. Arteta’s team have had much more possession but have not really had Palace at full stretch.
08:16 PM BST
14 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 0
Palace had Arsenal pinned into a corner, but the away team managed to escape through Saka after the bounce of the ball went their way. Saka found Nketiah on the overlap down the right on the break, but he delayed and took the speed out of the attack. It resulted in an Arsenal corner which came to nothing.
The Ayew looks dangerous against Tomiyasu again, whipping a cross across the face which Ramsdale palmed away at full stretch. Fortunately for Arsenal, no one was there for the rebound.
08:12 PM BST
11 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 0
Saka tried to float a cross into the penalty but it was easily claimed by Johnstone. Moments before that, Saka tried to nod a ball down for Nketiah after a lovely scoop from White, but the striker could not bring it down. Good pressure from Doucoure in the Palace midfield on Martinelli. Neither goalkeeper has had a save to make so far.
08:09 PM BST
8 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 0
Crystal Palace with their first menacing attack after the referee played a good advantage in midfield. Ayew drives at Tomiyasu down the Palace right, and his low cross is hacked away by Saliba. Arsenal deal with the throw in. That at least has the crowd involved again after a rather passive opening period.
Crystal Palace fans in the stands during the Premier League match at Selhurst Park
08:07 PM BST
6 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 0
Partey tried to fizz a pass out to Saka but overhit it spectacularly and Palace have the throw. They cannot keep it though, and Arsenal are into another long spell of possession.
Palace have done a decent job at preventing any passes into the centre-forward Nketiah or Odegaard, allowing Arsenal around their shape. Arsenal look for Nketiah over the top but he is penalised for a foul.
08:05 PM BST
4 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 0
Arsenal moving the ball around confidently, the game is being played entirely in the Palace half. Partey finds Saka with a cute pass and his cross is headed behind for a corner to the visitors. Headed away at the near post by Eze.
Palace look to hit Arsenal with an early ball over the top, but Ramsdale’s starting position was aggressive and he swept up neatly. Palace still trying to gain a foothold in the contest.
08:03 PM BST
2 minutes: Crystal Palace 0 Arsenal 0
Palace fans bouncing, making a racket in the early stages. Arsenal’s back players get some early touches of the ball, keeping the ball under not too much pressure. Decent tackle from Tomiyasu to win the ball back in the first place. Palace back behind the ball in their 4-4-2.
Decent Arsenal opening! Martinelli found himself free as a bird on the left side of the penalty area and Havertz picked him out. The Brazilian possibly took too long to shoot, his effort was charged down, and then Saka saw a follow up blocked.
Arsenal’s Kai Havertz in action with Crystal Palace’s Jefferson Lerma and Joachim Andersen
08:00 PM BST
KICK OFF!
Arsenal get the game started, and straight away it looks like they’re lining up with a back three and Partey and Rice in front of them.
07:59 PM BST
Minute’s applause at Selhurst
In memory of Trevor Francis and late Millwall chairman John Berylson who passed away this summer.
07:56 PM BST
The players are in the tunnel
I say tunnel, it is more of an open-air alleyway at Selhurst Park. Lively atmosphere as always, and the players are greeted by some firecrackers. Mr Magoo could see the Arsenal players coming tonight in their neon-style socks.
Eberechi Eze of Crystal Palace during the Premier League match
07:53 PM BST
Zaha gone but the mural remains
At least Palace are not alone – there is also a dedicated Harry Kane mural near the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Crystal palace supporters pass a mural of former Palace player Wilfred Zaha
07:47 PM BST
The goalkeeper union in action
Aaron Ramsdale and David Raya of Arsenal embrace as they warm up
07:37 PM BST
Hodgson on Olise signing a new contract
It’s always concerning when a club of Chelsea’s stature take interest in a player, and people will suggest that a move to them might be the best bet.
I had always hoped that wouldn’t be the case and that Michael would realise that at such a young age his future here is very bright, and we can help him move very quickly on to another level.
07:32 PM BST
A first outing for this Arsenal kit tonight
Arsenal are wearing their electric yellow away kit tonight, and it fair to say it has divided opinion. Actually, that’s not true at all. There is almost blanket consensus that it looks awful. As you might imagine, the jersey does not get very high up Thom Gibbs’ kit rankings.
A general view inside the Arsenal dressing room prior to the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal FC
07:16 PM BST
Arsenal’s goalkeeping debate could be a theme throughout the season
07:13 PM BST
Sam Dean on Arsenal’s set up
Mikel Arteta is seemingly going with the same shape that he used against Nottingham Forest last week, despite the loss of Jurrien Timber to a long-term injury.
It’s not easy to describe this formation in the usual way. It’s probably a 4-3-3 without the ball but, with possession, it will be more of a 3-2-2-3, perhaps.
07:11 PM BST
The team news analysed
Hodgson does not yet have the luxury of picking Michael Olise, so no surprise that Palace have picked the same XI that won at Sheffield United.
More surprising is Arsenal’s team news, with Gabriel remaining on the bench. The centre-half had started 73 consecutive league matches for Mikel Arteta going into the season, but there have been reports linking him with Saudi Arabia. Arsenal said his omission against Nottingham Forest was tactical.
Perhaps there is something more going on. Perhaps Arteta wants his team to be more bold and even more attacking this season as teams seek to stifle them. It’s an Arsenal team with just three natural defenders.
Takehiro Tomiyasu of Arsenal arrives at the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal
07:06 PM BST
Mikel Arteta speaks before the game
Performing well first and earning the right to win the game.
(On Rice’s role) He can play both positions and having that versatility in place is really important. It depends on the relationships we build and the opposition as well.
(On how to get past low blocks) Training, getting used to it, getting better in tight spaces and play at a high rhythm. Don’t get sloppy and starting building too slowly.
07:03 PM BST
Arsenal team and subs
Ramsdale, Partey, Saliba, White, Tomiyasu, Rice, Odegaard, Havertz, Saka, Martinelli, Nketiah
Subs: Raya, Gabriel, Smith Rowe, Kiwior, Trossard, Jorginho, Vieira, Nelson, Zinchenko
07:02 PM BST
Crystal Palace team and subs
Johnstone, Ward, Guehi, Andersen, Mitchell, Lerma, Schlupp, Doucoure, Ayew, Eze, Edouard
Subs: Matthews, Tomkins, Clyne, Richards, Ahamada, Gordon, Riedewald, Rak-Sakyi
06:56 PM BST
Bukayo Saka speaking before his 82nd straight Premier League appearance
It’s definitely a nice record, I’m just really proud to be in the same company as the legends who played for this club.
It’s really important that we start well, we did that last season and we’re looking to do the same.
We know how tough it is to come here, the atmosphere is really good and they have some good players. We’ve had a good week and we just need to continue that.
06:49 PM BST
Roy Hodgson speaking before the game
We’re looking forward to it of course. Arsenal were very good last season and it looks like they will be good again this season.
We’re playing at home and it will be a good test of where we are at this early stage of the season.
I don’t know how front foot we can be if we haven’t got the ball, but when we get the ball we believe in our strengths and our qualities. But we know tonight is going to be a stern test in that regard.
06:47 PM BST
Arsenal’s latest signing arrives
How long before David Raya starts his first Arsenal game?
Arsenal’s David Raya arrives before the match
06:39 PM BST
Telegraph Fantasy Football
06:31 PM BST
Our man in position at Selhurst Park
06:30 PM BST
Free bets
Having a bet on today’s match? First take a look at these free bets and betting offers.
06:29 PM BST
Arsenal expected to control possession and territory – will they make it count?
Arsenal used their previous trip to Selhurst Park as a springboard to a title challenge, and expectations are now even higher than they were last August.
Mikel Arteta’s team started last season with a hard-fought, Friday night win at Palace, when they produced an electric opening 20 minutes with new signings Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko to the fore. Now Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber (lost to long-term injury) have been added to a squad which won 84 Premier League points, and there is pressure on Arsenal to deliver tangible success after two years of progress.
They have three points on the board after a relatively routine victory over Nottingham Forest, when Arteta introduced some new tactical ideas. Arsenal’s first-choice XI was set in stone last season, but now Arteta has more choices to make as he attempts to ensure his squad lasts the distance. Will Gabriel Magalhães return? Will Thomas Partey continue as a right-back-cum-central midfielder? Will Declan Rice play high or deep? Will Havertz, Eddie Nketiah or Leandro Trossard be picked up front? For perhaps the first time in his Arsenal reign, it is difficult to read Arteta’s preferences. That has potential pitfalls as well as benefits.
Palace were utterly dominant in their opening day win at Sheffield United when they amassed 24 shots on goal and had 68 per cent possession, which is distinctly un-Palace like. In Premier League football in 2023, only Manchester City have conceded fewer than Palace’s 1.19 expected goals per game, so they are very solid in Roy Hodgson’s defensive shape, which tends to be a narrow 4-4-2. Wilfried Zaha has left for Turkey and Michael Olise is injured, so this Palace team does not quite carry the offensive threat of old. That said, the hard graft on Jordan Ayew and Jeffrey Schlupp (who used to be a left-back) could be useful tonight as Palace seek to counter Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli on the flanks.
Will their defensive rigour frustrate Arsenal or leave the home side looking toothless? We shall see. It feels like the game will be decided by the speed and accuracy of Arsenal’s play around the box.
Full team news on the way shortly.
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