Will the Gunners extend their lead at the top of the table?
Arsenal FC currently sits at the top of the Premier League table. Coach Mikel Arteta’s team has won six of its eight matches so far. They are three points ahead of second-placed Manchester City in the standings.
Ahead of Arsenal’s match against Crystal Palace, ODDSET is offering odds of just 1.72 on the Gunners winning their first championship since 2004.
However, the team from the North London borough of Islington is focusing solely on the next game. That threatens to be difficult enough, as Crystal Palace is one of only three clubs, alongside Arsenal and Bournemouth, to have suffered just one defeat so far this Premier League season.
Coach Oliver Glasner’s team is currently only eighth in the table, but has already proven several times that it does not need to hide from big-name opponents. Among other things, the Eagles beat Liverpool (2-1) and Aston Villa (2-0) and drew with Chelsea FC (0-0).
However, recent impressions must of course also be taken into account in the Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace prediction. Last year’s FA Cup winners have not fared nearly as well here. Crystal Palace lost 2-1 to Everton FC, had to settle for a 3-3 draw at home against Bournemouth, and suffered a surprising 0-1 defeat in their ECL home game against AEK Larnaca on Thursday evening. The previous momentum has given way to a much bleaker reality. In the capital city derby, they are now facing their fourth winless match in a row.
In my opinion, it is still an option to bet on both teams scoring in the Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace match. Why? Because Glasner’s team currently leads the Premier League in shots on goal (43), xG ranking (17.4), and big chances created (33). I definitely believe that the offense led by former Bundesliga striker Mateta is capable of scoring at Emirates Stadium, and I would also argue that – purely subjectively and irrationally speaking – it’s actually time for the Gunners to concede a goal again.
Goalkeeper David Raya has kept four clean sheets in a row and nine since the start of the season. In twelve competitive games so far, the PL leaders’ defense has conceded only three goals. Defense is the biggest asset that coach Mikel Arteta’s team has. However, after a thoroughly intense week of English football and knowing that there will only be games every three days until the next international break in November, a loss of concentration at times is to be expected.
Arsenal remain my favorites, but I don’t believe they will keep another clean sheet this time. Instead, I expect Viktor Gyökeres to score, who ended his goal drought with two goals in the 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid during the week. If the Swede scores again this weekend in the Premier League’s ninth matchday, it would result in betting odds of 2.15 for Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace in the Interwetten app.
Arsenal – Crystal Palace Head-to-head record
Of Crystal Palace’s last 14 away games at Arsenal FC, the Eagles have won only one. In 2019, they secured a 3-2 victory under Roy Hodgson. Eight Gunners wins and five draws round off the record. Looking back at the last six head-to-head matches, the title contenders from the north of the capital have also come out on top five times.
The only exception was the 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium in April this year. Crystal Palace have scored at least once against the Gunners three times in a row. Also interesting: in the last four matches, a bet on over 3.5 goals would have paid off, and in three cases even a bet on over 4.5 goals. Will there be goals to marvel at on Sunday afternoon? I think so!
Arsenal – Crystal Palace Tip
One of the top matches on Matchday 9 in the Premier League will take place on Sunday afternoon in the capital. Arsenal welcomes Crystal Palace and is determined to secure its seventh competitive win in a row.
However, it won’t be a walk in the park, as the reigning FA Cup winners have also had a formidable season so far, conceding only one defeat in the first eight matchdays and beating Liverpool FC, for example. However, the recent trend of two defeats and a draw from the last three games is not particularly encouraging.
Although the Gunners have the best defense on the island and have kept a clean sheet in nine of twelve competitive games this season, I believe that the Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace tip for both teams to score offers solid value.
