After ending their nine-year trophy drought by clinching the FA Cup in a 3-2 win over Hull City at Wembley, North London side Arsenal head into the 2014-15 English Premier League season with high hopes of winning the trophy for the first time since 2004.
The Gunners, plagued by the departure of key players over the years, have made key additions to their squad this term, adding French international right-back Mathieu Debuchy, young English defender Calum Chambers, and Colombian shot-stopper David Ospina, just to name a few.
The biggest name of Arsenal's summer signings, though, is Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez, who is set to make his English Premier League debut when Arsene Wenger's men welcome Crystal Palace to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Sanchez, signed from Barcelona on a £35m fee, who impressed in Arsenal's 3-0 FA Community Shield triumph over Manchester City, will look to add speed to Arsenal's attack, linking up with French attacking duo Olivier Giroud and Yaya Sanogo.
The former Udinese man is tipped for a starting position this Saturday, especially with many integral players missing from the their ranks.
Le Prof will have to do without his German World Cup-winning trio of Mesut Ozil, Lukas Podolski, and Per Mertesacker, who resumed training alongside their team-mates to late to be in the running for a spot in the starting eleven.
Another big name set to miss the Gunners' curtain-opener is Three Lions attacker Theo Walcott who has not yet fully recovered from the lengthy knee injury picked up in an FA Cup clash with Tottenham back in January.
Crystal Palace, a team who heroically escaped relegation last season, will enter their opening game without a permanent manager after the club announced Tony Pulis' departure from Selhurst Park.
Pulis, voted Manager of the Year for the 2013-14 season, parts way with the Eagles "by mutual consent" after disagreements with club chairman Steve Parish over the vision for the team, according to BBC Sport. David Moyes, Tim Sherwood, and former Cardiff City FC boss Malky Mackay are reported favorites to replace Pulis.
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace team sheets
Arsenal's First XI: Szczesny; Debuchy, Koscielny,Chambers,Gibbs;Arteta, Wilshere, Ramsey, Alexis, Cazorla, Sanogo.
Arsenal's subs: Martinez, Monreal, Coquelin, Rosicky, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Campbell, Giroud
Crystal Palace's First XI: Speroni; Kelly, Dann, Hangeland, Ward; Puncheon, Jedinak, Ledley, Bolasie; Chamakh, Campbell.
Crystal Palace's subs: Hennessey, Delaney, McCarthy, O'Keefe, Bannan, Gayle, Murray.
Where to watch the match -- LIVE stream, TV listings, Start time
Watch Arsenal vs Crystal Palace live on Saturday, August 16, 2014:
In USA at 12:30 EST: Deportes Telemundo En Vivo, NBC Sports Live Extra, Mun2, NBC, SiriusXM FC
In Canada at 12:30 EST: Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Ontario, Sportsnet Pacific, Sportsnet West, Sportsnet World Now
In UK at 17:30 BST: Sky Go, NOW TV, TalkSport Radio UK, Sky Sports 1/HD, Sky Go Extra, BBC Radio
Visit the Arsenal vs Crystal Palace match page for worldwide live broadcast information.
