Crystal Palace's Roy Hodgson not looking forward to facing Arsenal

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Alex Young @alexwsyoung28 December 2017

Roy Hodgson admits he is not looking forward to facing Arsenal this evening as his Crystal Palace team put their unbeaten run to the test on Thursday.

Palace have not lost in seven games, a Premier League record for the club, to move them up to 16th in the standings ahead of back-to-back matches against Arsenal and Manchester City.

"We are going to find it very difficult and will have to be at the absolute top of our game and hope that Arsenal are not at their best then we might have a chance," Hodgson told the club's website.

"I don't look forward to playing the teams that are fully expected to beat us and they are such a good team with so many good players.

"We know that's what we've got coming, that's what we've got to try to find a way of trying to deal with. The only advantage we have is the fact that it is at home ... they (the fans) will be expecting us to give our all against Arsenal."

After beating Watford 2-1 in their last home game, Palace overcame Leicester City 3-0 away before being held by basement side Swansea City at the Liberty stadium last weekend.

"We need to build on the four points we have just picked up away from home," Hodgson added.

"We have not been playing badly and if we can keep that going we may even get points from those games that people don't expect us to."

Additional reporting by Reuters.