Arsenal return to Premier League action on Sunday when Crystal Palace visit the Emirates. The Gunners arrive off a 4–0 victory over Atlético Madrid on Tuesday, their sixth successive win and a continuation of a perfect start in the Champions League. Arsenal sit top of the table and boast the league’s stoutest defence, but Manchester City could move to within a point before the weekend fixtures kick off.

Crystal Palace come into the game on the back of cup success and a long unbeaten run that peaked at 18 matches. Palace have since lifted the FA Cup and the Community Shield, but they are now winless in three across all competitions after a home defeat to AEK Larnaca in the Conference League on Thursday.

Team news is significant for the hosts. Arteta confirmed on Friday that the defender hasn’t been able to train since picking up an injury against Atléti. If Gabriel is not risked, Cristhian Mosquera is ready to step in and partner William Saliba. Piero Hincapié may also be considered, though he has appeared just once since joining on deadline day. Riccardo Calafiori and Leandro Trossard are likely to be recalled, while Eberechi Eze should retain his place. Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Martin Ødegaard remain out.

Palace face a quick turnaround after Thursday and will rotate accordingly. Chris Richards and Adam Wharton are certainties to return, with Wharton having only come off the bench on Thursday. Eddie Nketiah could start against his former club, potentially alongside Jean-Philippe Mateta, with Yeremy Pino the most likely to make way. Injured pair Cheick Doucouré and Chadi Riad have yet to feature this season.

Arsenal predicted lineup vs. Crystal Palace (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Mosquera, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice, Eze; Saka, Gyökeres, Trossard.

Crystal Palace predicted lineup vs. Arsenal (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guéhi; Muñoz, Hughes, Wharton, Mitchell; Sarr, Nketiah; Mateta.

Broadcast details: United States (Peacock, Amazon Prime Video); United Kingdom (Sky Go UK, NOW, SKY GO Extra, Sky Sports Premier League); Canada (DAZN Canada, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video); Mexico (Caliente TV, Amazon Prime Video).

Gabriel Jesus has moved to silence immediate transfer talk while acknowledging a long-term curiosity about other leagues. The striker rejected the idea of an imminent exit but accepted that a future move could be possible because he enjoys watching and learning from different styles of football.

Competition for minutes at Arsenal is intense. Viktor Gyökeres is all but guaranteed a starting berth upfront, while the wide positions are crowded under Arteta. Bukayo Saka must fend off Noni Madueke plus the promising Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman. Eberechi Eze is not guaranteed a starting spot on the left wing even after his £67.5 million move this summer, with Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard also in form. The return of Kai Havertz adds another layer of uncertainty about where Jesus will fit into the side.

That uncertainty has generated speculation about a January switch to aid his hopes of securing a place in the squad for this summer’s World Cup, and there have been reports linking him to Palmeiras as well as to Everton and West Ham United. Jesus pushed back on those reports.

“There’s never been any contact with anyone at the club or my staff,” Jesus declared to PLACAR . “Every day, the coach and the board say they’re eager for my return. I don’t see myself outside the club’s plans. I have a contract until 2027, and if there’s no renewal by then, I’ll be at the club at least until 2027.”

He also addressed his mindset after injury and the arrival of reinforcements. “I was in a great moment when I got injured,” he sighed. “Obviously, the club couldn’t be at the mercy of a single player and would go after someone in my position, but that doesn’t affect my desire to win and win titles with Arsenal. On the contrary, my main focus is to return and return well.”

On future destinations, Jesus was candid about his attraction to other competitions. “I watch a lot of La Liga and Serie A matches, and I think they’re championships with beautiful football,” Jesus mused. “It certainly makes me want to try things out, but my goal is to win titles with Arsenal.” A return to Brazil remains part of his planning, but for now his focus is on recovery and regaining his place at Arsenal.

Eberechi Eze has outlined how a late approach from Arsenal changed the course of his summer. Spurs appeared to be leading negotiations in mid-August after James Maddison suffered a serious knee injury and the accepted departure of Son Heung-min led Tottenham to seek a new creative outlet. Talks were held, personal terms had been accepted and Crystal Palace were reportedly content with a £55 million ($73.2 million) fee on the table.

Speaking during a return to his former secondary school, Eze acknowledged the strength of Tottenham’s position. “I was prepared to go to Tottenham,” Eze admitted, as quoted by The Athletic, “but from the moment Arsenal came, it was always going to be them.”

Those Arsenal discussions were not brand new. Eze had a meeting with Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta several weeks before Tottenham formalised their interest, informing his boyhood club he was eager to return to the Emirates. The Gunners had been weighing options that included Morgan Gibbs-White and Morgan Rogers before Eze intervened.

On the day he was due to sign for Spurs, the 27-year-old rang Arteta to check whether a move to Arsenal remained possible. When a £67.5 million deal was later completed, the Spanish manager reflected, “That shows you how much he wanted to come,” underlining the forward momentum behind the transfer.

Adjustment to Arsenal has presented challenges. Eze arrived from a Crystal Palace side built to sweep forward on the break and has yet to replicate his previous creative output. Across seven Premier League appearances for Arsenal this season, he has created just two chances from open play, fewer than seven of his teammates.

Crystal Palace travel to the Emirates on Sunday afternoon with a compact shape that is likely to limit the space Eze enjoyed at Selhurst Park, but Arteta remains confident the midfielder can make an impact on what promises to be a “special” occasion.