Arsenal will look to pick up their second win a week at the Emirates Stadium when they host Crystal Palace on New Year’s Day.

The Gunners bounced back from disappointing defeats against Everton and Manchester City – where they took the lead but lost 2-1 in both – by beating West Bromwich Albion in another tight and tense encounter on Boxing Day thanks to Olivier Giroud’s late header.

On Sunday, they come up against new Eagles manager Sam Allardyce, who has been tasked with taking Palace back to basics in order to move them away from the relegation zone.

The former England manager began his reign with a 1-1 draw against Watford at Vicarage Road on Monday, and he certainly has the attacking players to give the north London outfit a real problem in his second match in charge.

Here are three ways that Arsenal can prevent an upset at home to Crystal Palace…

Be clinical

If Arsenal are to avoid any chance of an upset against Crystal Palace, they must be clinical with their finishing.

After taking the lead away against Everton and Manchester City, the Gunners had more chances to extend their advantage but after failing to take those opportunities, they were punished.

Against West Brom on Monday, it took a late Olivier Giroud to finally make the breakthrough and Arsene Wenger won’t want a repeat of that tense affair on New Year’s Day.

Stop the supply to Benteke

With Sam Allardyce taking over at Crystal Palace and the likes of Wilfried Zaha, Andros Townsend and Christian Benteke at his disposal, the Eagles will go back to basics as they look to pull away from the relegation zone.

Allardyce will likely ask his wingers to fire in crosses to the tall and physical Benteke, and Arsenal defenders Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel will have to be at their strongest to prevent the Belgian winning any headers in the penalty area.

Stop Cabaye pulling the strings

The French midfielder had struggled to get a regular run in Crystal Palace’s first team under Alan Pardew, but Cabaye returned to the starting XI against Watford for Sam Allardyce’s first match in charge and marked it with a goal.

The France international likes to pull the strings in the middle of the park but if Arsenal can stop him supplying the Eagles’ wingers, they may just nullify the threat from their London neighbours.