Arsenal-Crystal Palace is a match valid for the 28th day of the Premier League and is played on Sunday at 15:00: tv, predictions.
While Manchester City are busy with the FA Cup this weekend, Arsenal can take the opportunity to increase, if only momentarily, the gap in the standings.
And consolidate the lead, at least until Pep Guardiola’s side recover the league match with West Ham. But there is news: the Gunners, since last Thursday, no longer have any ‘distractions’. They were knocked out of the Europa League after also drawing the return match with Sporting (1-1) and surrendering on penalties. The elimination from the second continental competition is not good news for City at all, as from now on their rivals can focus exclusively on the Premier League. Arsenal, on the other hand, have looked unstoppable in recent matches, winning five in a row since their defeat to the Citizens a month ago. Another show of strength came in the London derby with Fulham last Sunday, in which Mikel Arteta’s side won 3-0 at home to the Cottagers. The road to what would be an unexpected title is still a long one, but the Gunners, before the direct clash on 26 April next, have a series of matches in front of them that are within their reach, with the exception of the Anfield challenge with Liverpool.
The first of these matches is with Crystal Palace, who have just exonerated former Arsenal flag bearer Patrick Vieira after their third consecutive defeat.
Crystal Palace’s Schlupp
The straw that broke the camel’s back was last Sunday’s defeat at home to Brighton, where for the fourth game in a row the Eagles ran out of goals. The London outfit is in free-fall, has not won a match since last December and risks being sucked into the relegation fight, never so fierce as this year. In the derby with the Gunners the Under-21 coach Paddy McCarthy will be on the bench, waiting for the ownership to appoint a replacement.
The Prediction
Arsenal have not lost a single derby against other London teams this season – the tally is 8 wins and 1 draw – and they should get the better of a Crystal Palace in a black crisis, who have just exonerated Vieira and are just three points from the relegation zone. Although many of the Gunners’ players are fresh from their Europa League battle with Sporting, their goal is likely to remain unbroken.
Arsenal v Crystal Palace matchday squad
- ARSENAL (4-3-3): Ramsdale; White, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Odegaard, Partey, Xhaka; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli.
- CRYSTAL PALACE (4-3-3): Whitworth; Clyne, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Hughes, Doucouré, Schlupp; Olise, Edouard, Zaha.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-0
