Arteta warns against complacency: ‘Margins are very small’ in Palace test
Arsenal will aim to strengthen their grip at the top of the Premier League when they host Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Mikel Arteta’s side are chasing a seventh straight win in all competitions and another chance to keep their title momentum going.
The Gunners head into the game in fine form after a 4-0 Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid, which extended their unbeaten home run. Yet Arteta insists there is no room for complacency.
“They are far from perfect and there are a lot of things we must do better,” he said. “The margins to win football games at this level are very small, so the more alert and urgent we are, the better our chances to win.”
Arsenal’s defensive solidity remains a cornerstone of their rise. They have conceded just three league goals in 12 matches, a record the manager wants to build on.
“That defensive record is very good, but we need to be consistent; it’s only the start of the season,” Arteta noted. “The stronger we are in that foundation, the bigger the probability of winning games is.”
Arteta confirmed that Gabriel Magalhaes faces a late fitness test after coming off against Atletico, while Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Noni Madueke and Martin Odegaard are still unavailable but progressing well in their recoveries.
The Arsenal boss also warned against underestimating Jean-Philippe Mateta, who has been in fine scoring form for Palace.
“They have very clear intentions of how they want to attack,” he said. “Stopping the source is the best way because when you get into certain situations with him one-on-one, you know how prolific he can be.”
Palace, who have gone three domestic games without a win, have lost five of their last six Premier League meetings with Arsenal. But Arteta expects a competitive encounter, mindful that his side dropped points in this fixture last season.
“It’s the fourth game in a row against opponents we dropped points against last year,” he said. “We’ve managed to beat the previous three, so our focus is on making sure we do the same again.”
Arteta also highlighted the importance of home support as Arsenal seek to maintain their momentum. “The atmosphere at the Emirates is key,” he added. “We don’t expect fans just to turn up. We want them to play the game with us.”
Victory on Sunday would reinforce Arsenal’s position at the top of the table and extend their winning run to seven matches.
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