Arsenal will hope that Nicolas Pepe can build on his match-winning brace against Vitoria de Guimaraes in the Europa League last time out as they host Crystal Palace in domestic action.

The Eagles, meanwhile, were beaten 2-0 by Manchester City in their last game as they embark on a gruelling run of fixtures, playing four of the top six and Leicester City in a five-game spell.

Arsenal

Arsenal were made to work for their victory in the Europa League in midweek, going behind twice to the Portuguese outfit and being forced to come from behind to win 3-2 at the Emirates.

Gabriel Martinelli's first-half header provided the initial equaliser, but two excellent free kicks from Pepe - on as a substitute - were needed late on to seal the victory.

It was another disappointing Gunners display, albeit with a more positive result than their last league fixture - a 1-0 defeat against newly-promoted Sheffield United.

Despite the loss to the Blades being just the Gunners' second defeat in all competitions so far this season, the quality - or lack thereof - of Arsenal's performances under Unai Emery has seen the head coach come under fire.

Individual performances have often come to the Spaniard's aid, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in sizzling form this season, having hit eight goals from just 11 appearances across all competitions.

With Pepe requiring time to adapt and Alexandre Lacazette enduring a period out with an ankle injury, it has been left to the Gabon striker to carry the attacking workload almost single-handedly.

However, with his first-choice front three close to being fit and firing, Emery will be expected to coax a higher level of performance out of his men, particularly given that Arsenal do not face a fellow top-six side in their next seven league fixtures.

Should more results such as the defeat against Sheffield United occur, however, the Gunners hierarchy may be tempted to look elsewhere for a man who can get the best out of a talented crop of players.

Recent Premier League form: DDWDWL
Recent form (all competitions): WDWWLW

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace have enjoyed a strong start to their Premier League campaign thus far, sitting sixth in the table.

Just two defeats in their last six league games - both against top-six opposition - and back-to-back wins before their 2-0 defeat against Manchester City last time out have left them in a strong position.

However, the game against the reigning champions signalled the start of a punishing run of fixtures. The Eagles play Arsenal, Leicester City, Chelsea and Liverpool in their next four games.

Their fixture list is significantly kinder following that sequence, with no more top-six opponents in their following eight league outings.

Wilfried Zaha will be one to keep an eye on in this encounter, having very publicly pushed to leave Palace for the Gunners in the summer.

However, Arsenal baulked at his asking price and instead moved to sign Zaha's Ivory Coast international teammate Pepe from Ligue 1 side Lille.

Zaha has not shown his best form so far this term, with no goals and just one assist in 10 appearances across all competitions - a significant drop-off from last season's tally of 10 goals and 10 assists in the Premier League.

The forward could be motivated to produce his best against Arsenal, though, in a bid to convince the club he has supported since he was a child to come back in and get him either in January or next summer.

Recent Premier League form: WLDWWL

Team News

Arsenal boss Emery is expected to make wholesale changes from the team that started against Vitoria, reverting to the team that played against Sheffield United in the Premier League.

Despite Alexandre Lacazette's return from injury, he could keep him on the bench along with Kieran Tierney, Rob Holding and Hector Bellerin as he eases his recently-recovered stars back into action.

Dani Ceballos has also replaced Joe Willock twice in as many games from the bench and could start ahead of him when Palace visit.

Roy Hodgson will have to make a late call on whether or not to include Vicente Guaita and Martin Kelly, who could both return to fitness in time for the short trip to the Emirates Stadium.

Connor Wickham and Mamadou Sakho both remain unavailable, however, as the pair continue to struggle with injury.

Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Leno; Chambers, Sokratis, Luiz, Kolasinac; Guendouzi, Xhaka; Pepe, Ceballos, Saka; Aubameyang

Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Hennessey; Ward, Tomkiins, Cahill, Van Aanholt; Zaha, Kouyate, Milivojevic, McArthur, Schlupp; Ayew

Head To Head

The Gunners have won just two of their last five against the Eagles and lost this corresponding fixture last season by a 3-2 scoreline, one of two humiliating defeats to Crystal Palace in the last two years - the other a 3-0 defeat in 2017.

However, prior to this patchy run, Arsenal had not been beaten by Palace in 14 games - a run that stretches back to 1995.

Additionally, there has not been a clean sheet in the last four meetings between these teams.

We say: Arsenal 2-1 Crystal Palace

The Gunners look far from convincing under Emery but have only lost twice this season - neither of which was at the Emirates. Expect Palace to score and the scoreline to be tight, but Arsenal should scrape another result.