Arsenal travel to Selhurst Park on Monday night for a tricky clash with Crystal Palace as Premier League football makes its return following the international break, and a warning from Pep Guardiola should be ringing in the Gunners' ears.
The Gunners remain in pole position to secure their return to the Champions League next season. Mikel Arteta has led his side to a three-point lead over Tottenham and a four-point lead over Manchester United, with a game in hand on both sides, as the campaign enters its closing stages.
But Crystal Palace are a team transformed under Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira. The former midfielder has taken over from Roy Hodgson and has brought a brand of energetic, entertaining football that has seen them reach the FA Cup semi-final, beat Tottenham in the Premier League and take four points from Manchester City this season. Even the Gunners needed a last-gasp Alexandre Lacazette strike to rescue a point at the Emirates Stadium.
Guardiola's side were beaten 2-0 by the Eagles at the Etihad Stadium back in October, goals from Conor Gallagher and Wilfred Zaha enough to shock the reigning champs. Two weeks ago, they caused City problems again, holding them to a 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park, allowing Liverpool to move to within one point of the leaders.
After the game, Guardiola was surprisingly upbeat about the result, pointing to how well his side had played outside of finding the back of the net. He did, however, point to the Crystal Palace pitch as playing its part in the game.
"We played to win the game," he said after full-time. "We created more and conceded few. The stats are there. The way we played was amazing in a difficult stadium with the grass not perfect. We were there all the time, with and without the ball. We did a good game."
Given how Arteta is trying to implement a similar passing style at the Emirates Stadium, it is a warning the north Londoners should bare in mind and be prepared for.
