Crystal Palace vs Arsenal: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

Expect the league game to be close again as their EFL Cup fixture proved to be in midweek, and we are backing the same outcome once more. Arsenal are in good form, having not lost in their last nine games in all competitions, with their last Premier League defeat coming against Newcastle United (1-0) in November.

The Gunners are unbeaten in their previous six league games, with three wins over Nottingham Forest (3-0), West Ham United (2-5) and Manchester United (2-0). Arsenal have also won the last five meetings between the two sides, having scored first in four of the previous five meetings. Crystal Palace are winless in their previous three at home following two draws and a 2-0 defeat to Fulham - Crystal Palace 1-2 Arsenal

Crystal Palace host London neighbours Arsenal in the Premier League, as they look to extend their unbeaten run and climb the table.

Date: 21/12/24

Kick-off time: 17:30

Venue: Selhurst Park

These two teams face off in a rematch just days after they played eachother in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals at the Emirates. Arsenal came from behind to win 3-2 and advance to the final four. Palace will hope to avenge their defeat in midweek with an important three points in the league. After a poor start to the campaign, Palace have returned to the form that they produced towards the end of last season, as they are now unbeaten in their last five games. It has moved them up to 15th place, four points above the relegation zone. Another positive result could give them even more breathing room and continue their resurgence.

Arsenal are also in desperate need of three points, following two consecutive draws at Fulham and at home to Everton. The Gunners are now in third place, six points adrift of leaders Liverpool and four behind Chelsea, who sit in second. Despite their recent setbacks, Arsenal have lost just twice in the league all season, and are unbeaten in six.

Goals have dried up for Arsenal of late, with just three scored in their last three league games. However, this followed nine in the three games prior. It is a slump that Mikel Arteta will hope his side will come out of, and they should have confidence in getting back on track offensively against a Palace side who have kept one clean sheet in their last seven. Bukayo Saka has been in excellent form, contributing to 15 goals this season. Kai Havertz is their joint-top scorer with five, though has not netted in his last three league games. Gabriel Jesus could get the nod up front instead, having scored a hat-trick in midweek, his first goals at the Emirates in over a year.

Palace will have a tough job to get past a strong Arsenal backline, who boast the league’s second best defensive record. The hosts have only scored 17 goals in 16 games, but have scored at least two in three of their last five games, including against Man City and Brighton. Ismaila Sarr scored a brace against the Seagulls, taking his season tally to three. Jean-Philippe Mateta leads the team with four and opened the scoring against the Gunners last time out. Ex-Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah is still searching for his first league goal at his new club, though was also on the scoresheet just days ago in the cup.

Since 2020, Arsenal and Palace have met nine times in the Premier League. As expected, the Gunners have a superior record in this stretch, winning five times and losing once. They are also winners of four in a row. Last season, they did the double over their opponents, recording a dominant 5-0 victory at home after a 1-0 win at Selhurst Park earlier in the campaign. Martin Odegaard scored the winner from the penalty spot.

Crystal Palace vs Arsenal will be available to watch on Sky Sports Main Event & Premier League.

Crystal Palace

Adam Wharton and Matheus Franca remain out with returns expected in the new year. Daniel Munoz will be suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season last weekend. Rob Holding is the only other confirmed absentee, with the rest of the squad available for selection.

Arsenal

Declan Rice missed out on the midweek meeting with Palace through injury, though is hopeful of being involved at the weekend. Mikel Arteta rotated his side for the fixture, but expect the likes of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and William Saliba to return to the starting lineup. Ben White, Riccardo Calafiori and Oleksandr Zinchenko remain out.

Crystal Palace

In their last five games, Crystal Palace have won two, drawn two and lost one. It has been a strong stretch for Palace as they have gone unbeaten in the league. It started with a home game against Newcastle, in which they held their visitors to a 1-1 draw. A Marc Guehi own goal gave Newcastle the lead, before Palace equalised at the death through Daniel Munoz.

Three points followed as they visited Ipswich. They won 1-0 with Jean-Philippe Mateta netting the winning goal after 59 minutes. They continued their impressive streak with a 2-2 home draw against Man City. Munoz gave them a very early lead, though they were pegged back by an Erling Haaland strike. Maxence Lacroix put them back in front, before Rico Lewis levelled it once more. Lewis then got sent off, but there was no change in the score.

At the weekend, they faced rivals Brighton at the Amex Stadium, and they won 3-1, despite their hosts enjoying more possession. Goals from Trevoh Chalobah and Ismaila Sarr (x2) put them 3-0 up, before a late own goal proved nothing but a consolation. Last time out they travelled to Arsenal in the Carabao Cup quarter-final. They were eliminated with a 3-2 defeat. They took the lead through Mateta very early, but could not hold in the second half. Eddie Nketiah pulled one back late on, but they were unable to complete a comeback.

Arsenal

In their last five games, Arsenal have won three and drawn two. After returning to form, the Gunners have begun to stutter once more in the league. They are unbeaten in this stretch, however, with the first game of this run a 2-0 win over Man United. They showcased their strength at corners with two set-piece goals from Jurrien Timber and William Saliba giving three points.

They followed this with a trip to fellow Londoners Fulham, where they drew 1-1 after Saliba cancelled out an early opener from Raul Jimenez. Attention shifted to European action as they hosted Monaco in the Champions League. They were comfortable 3-0 winners, with Bukayo Saka (x2) and Kai Havertz on the scoresheet.

Last weekend they played Everton at home. They were held to a goalless draw as they dropped more points in the title race. In their most recent game, they took on Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup. They advanced to the semi-finals with a 3-2 win as a Gabriel Jesus hat-trick helped them overcome an early deficit.

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