Crystal Palace
Arsenal FC
Arsenal FC
In-form Arsenal aim to keep alive slim Europe hopes against fellow Londoners Crystal Palace
Arsenal to win 2-1
Arsenal’s late-season charge has provided them with a slim hope of reaching a European position, with six points from their remaining two fixtures potentially firing them as high as 6th.
This would require a meltdown from the likes of Spurs, West Ham and Everton, but stranger things have happened and Mikel Arteta will be pleased that his team has finally pulled together a winning run.
The Gunners have beaten Chelsea, West Brom and Newcastle in recent weeks, scoring five goals in the process and conceding just once. Can they keep that run up here against London rivals?
Crystal Palace are threatening to end the season well after all, with a couple of wins over the past month or so showcasing how dangerous they can be when their attackers link together.
A comeback win over Aston Villa has taken them a point behind 12th place Wolves, which would equal their second best-ever finish to a Premier League season.
Form Guide (all comps): LLWLW
Reasons to be cheerful:
Attackers are all firing right now
Two of their last three defeats have been against top four opposition
Reasons to be fearful:
Only beaten Arsenal once in last seven attempts
West Brom & Newcastle are only teams to have conceded more at home this season
Crystal Palace have been an enigma all season, promising so much when their attackers click into full gear, but also fail to deliver so often considering just how much quality they have.
In their 3-2 comeback win over Aston Villa, all three of Benteke, Zaha and Eze either scored or assisted, proving just how effective they can be when in full flight. Too often, that hasn’t been the case this season. They have 24 goals between them, but too often they’ve played as individuals rather than as a collective.
Here, Palace will be wary of their poor record against Arsenal, with just one victory across their last seven meetings, but won’t see them as much of a threat as in previous campaigns.
Star Man – Wilf Zaha
Now has 11 goals for the season, the best of his career to date. The pacey winger is such a threat in both scoring and creating goals.
Form Guide (all comps): LWDWW
Reasons to be cheerful:
Won three on the bounce in the league
Six-game unbeaten run away from home
Reasons to be fearful:
David Luiz and Xhaka likely to remain out here
Defence could struggle in Palace’s attackers are at their best
Arsenal have surprised one or two people in the way which they have bounced back towards the end of the season. Three wins on the bounce is a real positive for Arteta’s men, and a run they have completed just once before this season – staggering for a club the size of Arsenal.
Since their exit from the Europa League, Arsenal have looked like a different team, placing more emphasis on youngsters Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe.
Their win over Chelsea is one of the highlights of what has been a difficult season for the club. They will be hoping to push on with wins in their remaining two games of the season to set themselves up well for next campaign.
Star Man – Emile Smith Rowe
Scored the winner against Chelsea and the youngster has enjoyed a positive season for Arsenal.
Both sets of attacking players in good form
Should be goals at both ends
Arsenal are slight favourites
If both teams attack as we know they can, this could be a game full of goalscoring opportunities.
Palace’s front three can be electric if they are on song, while Arsenal’s youngsters have great flair about them.
We shouldn’t write off the fact that Palace will have fans at this game for the first time in a while, so that could inspire them, but Arsenal are slight favourites.
Arsenal to win 2-1
