Wenger to unleash twin attack on Eagles

The Premier League leaders will be looking to bounce back from their midweek Champions League home defeat by Borussia Dortmund when they travel to Selhurst Park.

Ozil produced a somewhat subdued display against Dortmund, which was a rarity for the German playmaker since his club-record £43 million move from Real Madrid.

Wenger, though, revealed that was in part down to the midfielder suffering from a virus in the build-up to the match, and he sees no reason why both Ozil and Cazorla, just back from an injury lay-off, cannot produce an effective partnership at the heart of the Arsenal team.

“The more you have the better it is. They can play together,” said Wenger.

“I did not start Cazorla on Tuesday night because I did not feel he was completely ready physically, but when he came on he did well.

“Ozil said he was alright, but in the two days before he had a virus and you could see that physically he was not at his best.”

The Gunners will not face anything like Jurgen Klopp’s well-organised outfit when they tackle the managerless Eagles, who have managed just three points from eight league games with Monday night’s 4-1 home defeat to Fulham proving the finale for Ian Holloway’s colourful spell in charge.

Holloway felt he did not have the energy to help Palace turn around their early-season troubles since coming up through the play-offs.

Despite that Wenger still believes the decision, which was made by mutual consent, was “very quick” for a manager he has much respect for.

“For me, he has exceptional talent to manage a football team,” the Arsenal boss added. “He is a football man, has something that belongs to him that is special, but you feel there is a strength in there that can take people on board with him.”

Nevertheless, Wenger does not want his team to concentrate on anything else than producing the required result to keep them top of the Premier League.

“You don’t speculate too much on how they will respond. I think what is important in our job is that you focus to be at your best and that we respond in a strong way to our disappointment on Tuesday night,” he said.

For his part, caretaker manager Keith Millen has urged Palace players to make an impression today.

Former Bristol City boss Millen is relishing the prospect of facing Arsene Wenger’s side and has challenged the squad to lay down a marker for the new manager — whoever that may be.

“It really is a challenge,” he said.

“It is the fixture we looked at when it came out at the start of the season.

“It is the reason we worked so hard last year to get promoted.

“That Wembley day seems a long way off now, how quickly things can change.

“But I just want the lads to enjoy the occasion, they are not doing it for me as I have told them I’m not looking for the job. “A new manager will be coming in and it is down to them to start impressing the new manager, whoever that may be, and I think that starts on Saturday.”