Arsenal v Crystal Palace

Munitions workers with a football, a factory yard, and a name that would one day echo across the world.

A group of workers at the Royal Arsenal munitions factory in Woolwich formed Dial Square FC in October 1886. The club quickly renamed itself Royal Arsenal, then Woolwich Arsenal, before eventually settling on simply Arsenal. They became the first southern club elected to the Football League in 1893, laying the groundwork for what would become one of English football's most decorated institutions.

Born beneath the same glass roof that crowned FA Cup finals, Palace's rivalry with Arsenal is as old as the club itself.

Crystal Palace FC was founded on 10 September 1905 at the Crystal Palace exhibition building in Sydenham. The club's origins are tied to the famous glass structure that hosted FA Cup finals from 1895 to 1914. Palace joined the Southern League and began their journey through the English football pyramid. Their first competitive meetings with Arsenal came in this early period, establishing a London rivalry that would endure for over a century.

Palace's first taste of the top flight dropped them straight into Arsenal's path, just as Bertie Mee's Double-winning side was taking shape.

Crystal Palace won promotion to the First Division for the first time in 1969 under Bert Head, bringing regular top-flight meetings with Arsenal. The timing was significant: Arsenal were building the squad that would win the Double in 1970-71 under Bertie Mee. Palace's arrival in the top division meant these two London sides would face each other in the highest stakes matches for the first time, adding genuine competitive edge to the fixture.

Crystal Palace's 4-3 defeat of reigning champions Arsenal in the 1990 semi-final cemented their reputation as a side capable of producing results against the very best.

The 1990 FA Cup semi-final remains one of the defining moments in this fixture's history. Crystal Palace, managed by Steve Coppell, defeated the reigning First Division champions Arsenal 4-3 in an extraordinary match at Wembley. Palace went on to face Manchester United in the final, drawing 3-3 before losing the replay 1-0. That semi-final victory over Arsenal, though, cemented Palace's reputation as a side capable of producing results against the very best on the biggest occasions.

Highbury was unforgiving territory during the Invincibles era; Wenger's side set a standard English football has rarely matched since.

Arsenal's unbeaten 2003-04 Premier League season saw them beat Crystal Palace in both league fixtures the following campaign, after Palace won promotion back to the top flight. The Invincibles era, under Arsène Wenger, represented Arsenal at their absolute peak. Palace were among the sides who found Highbury an unforgiving place to visit during this period, with Arsenal's fluid, attacking football setting a standard that has rarely been matched in English football.

Ninety-three years of Highbury, then suddenly 60,704 seats and a skyline to match.

Arsenal left Highbury after 93 years and moved to the 60,704-capacity Emirates Stadium in Ashburton Grove, Islington. The new ground transformed the matchday experience, with modern hospitality facilities, improved sightlines, and significantly increased capacity. Crystal Palace's visits to Arsenal now took place in one of Europe's most impressive modern stadiums, a far cry from the compact, atmospheric confines of Highbury.

Palace silenced the Emirates with a 3-0 win in 2017; proof that the fixture's revival carried real bite.

Crystal Palace's promotion in 2013 under Ian Holloway marked the beginning of their longest sustained spell in the top flight. Under successive managers, including Alan Pardew, Roy Hodgson, and Patrick Vieira, Palace established themselves as a resilient Premier League side. The Arsenal fixture became a regular twice-yearly fixture again, and Palace proved they could compete at the Emirates, notably winning 3-0 there in April 2017 under Sam Allardyce.

Every point dropped at the Emirates felt heavier that season; Arsenal were no longer making up the numbers.

Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal transformed from mid-table underperformers into serious Premier League title challengers. The 2022-23 season saw them lead the table for much of the campaign before Manchester City overtook them in the final stretch. Fixtures against sides like Crystal Palace became must-win encounters in the context of a title race, with every dropped point magnified. Arsenal's home form at the Emirates became crucial to their ambitions, and the intensity of these matches reflected the club's renewed sense of purpose.

Twenty years without a title makes every home match feel like a final; Palace arrive knowing they can hurt anyone.

Arsenal's pursuit of a first league title since 2004 means every home fixture at the Emirates carries significance. Crystal Palace, under Oliver Glasner, have shown they remain capable of causing problems for any side in the division. The fixture has evolved from a straightforward London derby into a match that can shape the trajectory of Arsenal's season. With the Emirates regularly sold out and the atmosphere transformed under Arteta, Palace face one of the toughest away days in English football.