Arsenal could be without a number of key players for their opening day clash in the 2022/23 Premier League against Crystal Palace.
Its a match that has significant importance to the Gunners, having lost in Croydon at the back end of last season as Patrick Vieira’s side put three past Mikel Arteta’s outfit without reply.
This time around though, the north Londoners seem to be in a better position on the pitch to right the wrongs of what happened at Selhurst Park in 2021/22.
Arteta’s side have been in scintillating form in pre-season, picking up big victories in the process against Chelsea and most recently Sevilla in the Emirates Cup. The five new recruits that Edu has supplied the Spaniard with have provided some much needed optimism in the fanbase who are still wounded from the fact that Tottenham beat them to top four last season.
Amongst the new signings, Gabriel Jesus looks like a right steal already at £45million, especially considering he has scored seven goals in pre-season.
Palace will certainly fear the Brazilian but Vieira’s side will know that despite the heavy favourites tag that their London counterparts have on them to pick up the three points on Friday night, there are a few injury issues which could tilt the pendulum in their favour.
This is because multiple players like Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kieran Tierney and Fabio Vieira are doubtful to make it in time to start the season due to various injury concerns.
Worryingly for Arsenal, you can now add Hale End academy graduate Emile Smith Rowe to the list of absentees as the 21-year-old is reportedly still nursing a ‘groin’ injury ahead of the season opener and therefore has been deemed ‘not fit’ to make the travelling squad.
This is according to PA Sport’s Mark Mann-Bryans who tweeted: “Emile Smith Rowe not fit for the start of the new Premier League season. Groin injury keeps him out but is due back in full training at some stage next week.”
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