Arsenal and Crystal Palace Set to Clash in EFL Cup 2024: Insights and Wagering Strategies
Revamped Preview: Arsenal vs Crystal Palace on 18 December 2024
Time to break down the upcoming duel between Arsenal and Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium on a chilly Wednesday night!
Arsenal's Unpredictability
The Gunners have been a bit inconsistent lately, with losses against Bournemouth and Newcastle, a draw at Chelsea, and a defeat at Inter Milan in the Champions League. However, they managed to bounce back with a 3-0 home victory over Nottingham Forest, a 5-1 drubbing of Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League, and a 2-0 win versus Man Utd in the Carabao Cup. They've dropped points in their last two EPL fixtures but still pose a formidable challenge.
Rotation and Injuries
Takehiro Tomiyasu, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Ben White are all sidelined due to injuries. Riccardo Calafiori might miss out, but Gabriel is expected to return. Declan Rice's disappearing act in the last match could lead to Jorginho receiving another start, with a fair bit of rotation likely. Ethan Nwaneri, Gabriel Jesus, and Leandro Trossard are all likely to feature in the starting lineup.
Arsenal's Priorities
Arsenal play Crystal Palace twice in four days, with the league meeting at Selhurst Park on Saturday being the priority. Mikel Arteta will rotate his team for this one, aiming to win in 90 minutes without risking injuries.
Betting Odds
ARS - 1.38X - 4.45CRY - 7.00
Crystal Palace's Ups and Downs
Palace have had a rollercoaster season, losing five and drawing three of their first eight league matches. However, they've turned things around, losing just once in nine games since. They scored their first win of the season against Tottenham, followed by a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa in the League Cup, a 2-2 draw at Wolves, and a 2-0 loss at Fulham.
They squandered a 2-1 lead to draw 2-2 at Aston Villa before scoring in the 94th minute to draw 1-1 at home with Newcastle. After beating Ipswich 1-0, they managed two impressive results: a 2-2 draw at home with Man City and a 3-1 victory at Brighton, despite only having 35% possession.
Team News and Absences
Matheus Franca is injured, and Adam Wharton is ruled out. Chadi Riad and Rob Holding are not expected to play any part in this one. Daniel Munoz is available, despite being suspended for the upcoming league clash. Olivier Glasner might stick with his best XI or opt for a few changes. Matt Turner is set to be in goal, and there could be spots for Cheick Doucoure and Eddie Nketiah in the starting lineup.
Crystal Palace's Confidence Boost
Confidence is high in the Palace camp, and they're known for being tough to beat, especially in a back five. With their defensive prowess and Counter-Attack Threat, they'll be aiming to shock the home fans and potentially upset the Gunners.
Key Stats
- Arsenal have scored 19 goals in their last 7 matches
- Arsenal's Saka has scored 5 goals in his last 7 matches
- Crystal Palace have lost just 1 of their last 9 matches (all competitions)
- Palace have lost their last 4 matches vs Arsenal (12 goals conceded)
A Tight Encounter Awaits
With Arsenal expected to rotate their squad, this match could be tightly contested. Crystal Palace, if they pick their strongest lineup, could cause an upset, but Arsenal's home advantage and recent good form might just edge them to victory. A draw is a possible outcome, and with a potential scoreline of Arsenal 1-1 Crystal Palace, it's shaping up to be an exciting battle!
James O'Connor, a football analyst and holder of the UEFA A coaching license, provides expert insights into the tactics of the PSL and the EPL. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/footy_analysis for more in-depth analysis and predictions.
- given the inconsistent performances of Arsenal, the upcoming match against Crystal Palace presents an unpredictable challenge.
- Injuries to Takehiro Tomiyasu, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Ben White, as well as potential absences of Riccardo Calafiori and Chadi Riad, could impact Arsenal's lineup.
- The betting odds for the Arsenal vs Crystal Palace match are ARS - 1.38 and CRY - 7.00.
- Crystal Palace's season has been a rollercoaster, with some impressive results against top opponents like Man City and Brighton, despite being in a 35% possession disadvantage.
- With Daniel Munoz available, Olivier Glasner might choose to stick with his best XI or opt for a few changes for the Arsenal match.
- Given Arsenal's home advantage, recent good form, and key player Saka's scoring streak, they might just edge out Crystal Palace, but a potential draw or an upset by the visitors might also occur.
- James O'Connor, a professional football analyst, offers expert insights and predications about the PSL and EPL on his Twitter account https://twitter.com/footy_analysis. His analysis could help sports enthusiasts better understand the tactics and outcomes of the matches, including the Arsenal vs Crystal Palace game.
