In the opening passages of 'When Eagles Dare', the excellent documentary about Crystal Palace, chairman Steve Parish reflects on the struggles the club he supported as a boy has had to establish themselves in the Premier League.
"In the early 90s," he said. "If you went to Selhurst Park and Highbury, you wouldn't have had a different experience. We were in the same stratosphere. But we never seemed to grasp the moment."
Such a comparison between Palace and Arsenal is a bit of a stretch given the respective histories of the two London clubs.
However, this season comparisons and contrasts will feel unavoidable.