Arsenal vs Crystal Palace tips and predictions: Back desperate hosts to come flying out of the traps

Arsenal and Crystal Palace are looking to improve on their recent run of poor form when they meet at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday lunchtime.

The Gunners have won one of seven across all competitions, and have lost their last three and each of their last two at the Emirates.

Crystal Palace have gone one better by winning one of 11 in all competitions as the pressure starts to mount on manager Roy Hodgson.

Mikel Arteta has also come under fire from fans in recent weeks, while there’s also a level of discontent with the club over a perceived lack of progress.

Arsenal looked like champions in waiting for so much of last season and they’re a contender on paper this campaign, but they can’t afford for the five-point gap to Liverpool to grow.

 

 

Palace always have a surprising result in them but the circumstances favour the home side in our opinion heavily.

Top teams are exactly that because they tend to show their best form in the right moments and on the back of an extended beak, Arsenal should come flying out of the traps.

Arsenal rarely lose back-to-back Premier League matches these days, but they’ve won their last six on the back of that scenario, outsourcing teams 22-5, which averages out as 3.66 to 0.83 per game.

It’s also worth noting they only lost two home games last season and responded with a 4-0 win against Everton and a 5-0 win against Wolves.

Palace aren’t on the wrong side of a hammering too often, but it’s usually against top-four teams, and we think they’re going to feel Arsenal’s wrath on Saturday.

 

Key stats

- Arsenal have won their last six on the back of successive Premier League defeats
- Arsenal have won 21 of 29 Premier League games at the Emirates Stadium
- Five of Arsenal’s last six wins against Palace have come by at least two goals
- Palace are conceding close to two goals per game since September

 

Planet Sport Bet offer: Arsenal v Crystal Palace - if Jesus scores 1st goal Bet £20, Get £5 Free Bet

 

Team news

Jurrien Timber, Fabio Viera and Thomas Partey are ruled out due to injury.

Mohamed Elneny is at the African Cup of Nations while Takehiro Tomiyasu is at the AFC Asian Cup.

Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus are nearing a return and a decision on their involvement could be taken on Friday.

The absence of Cheick Doucoure and Michael Olise is a major blow for Crystal Palace, while Jordan Ayew being at the African Cup of Nations doesn’t help matters.

Rob Holding, Joel Ward and Jeserun Rak-Sakyi are ruled out.

 

Suggested bets

Time of first Arsenal goal: Under 30 minutes

Arsenal -1.5 Asian handicap

Arsenal over 2.5 goals