While Manchester City were busy destroying Burnley in the FA Cup, their opponents in the title race didn’t have such distractions. Instead, the Gunners have got a Premier League clash with Crystal Palace – and a chance to open up an eight-point lead in the standings. Manager Mikel Arteta wants his players to be fully focused on the task at hand and wants them to understand there is nothing to be relaxed about.The Gunners will be without key defender William Saliba who was just one player to leave the Emirates Stadium limping after an emotionally and physically draining defeat to Sporting Clube de Portugal in midweek.Drinks, snacks and thrills: Get ready for a day full of derby actionIt left Arteta little time to prepare for Palace, the game the Spaniard described as one of 11 finals in their title chase. He admitted that he faces a monumental task to re-energise his team’s bodies and minds in the short turnaround.”The game against Palace is the most important one. It’s the only game we have before the international break now. And we will do what we have to do. If we do, we will be in a really strong position. A lot of players had to play 120 minutes that we didn’t want to do, especially with the number of minutes that some players have played, but we will see who is available and who is in what condition and put the best team out there to win.”After sacking Patrick Vieira on Friday morning, Palace will travel across London without a manager. Former club captain Paddy McCarthy will take interim charge, with the Under 21s boss assisted by Darren Powell and the goalkeeping coach, Dean Kiely. They have yet to win in 2023, in a 12-match run stretching back to New Year’s Eve. But in narrow defeats to Manchester City and Brighton last week, Arteta said he saw an improving team.##NAJAVA_MECA_7108285##Ending the Europa League adventure in dramatic fashion was hard to take, but it could be a blessing in disguise if the team can approach Premier League games with more energy. To Arteta, dwelling on the past is nothing more than a waste of resources.”I tried to give a lot of clarity in the dressing room and it was all about the message: accept it, swallow it, we have to learn from it but there is no point now spending one bit of energy or thought. I saw many things on Thursday, especially when we were giving a lot of balls away and suffering, that they did it together. The way they reacted, how they were when we conceded a goal, and how the game changed. It shows me a lot of positive signs.”Arsenal are currently the most in-form team in the Premier League…Palace up next.💪🏼 #afc pic.twitter.com/FIA37mN5Pn— now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) March 18, 2023 Will the positive signs be enough for the EPL leaders to return to winning ways? The answer is at the Emirates Stadium.PREMIER LEAGUE – Matchday 28Friday Nottingham Forest – Newcastle United 1-2 (1-1)/Dennis 26 – Isak 45+2, 90+3 pen/Saturday Wolverhampton – Leeds 2-4 (0-1)/Jonny 65, Cunha 73 – Harrison 6, Ayling 50, Kristensen 62, Rodrigo 90+7/Southampton – Tottenham 3-3 (0-1)/Adams 47, Walcott 77, Ward-Prowse 90+3 – Porro 45+1, Kane 65, Perisic 74/Brentford – Leicester 1-1 (1-0)/Jensen 32 – Barnes 53/Aston Villa – Bournemouth 3-0 (1-0)/Douglas Luiz 7, Ramsey 80, Buendia 89/Chelsea – Everton 2-2 (0-0)/Joao Felix 53, Havertz 76 pen – Doucoure 69, Simms 90/Sunday 17.00: (1.27) Arsenal (5.50) Crystal Palace (12.0)***odds are subject to change***
