Arsenal Clashes with Crystal Palace in EFL Cup 2024: A Look Ahead and Gambling Suggestions
Contest at the EmiratesWednesday, 18 December 2024, 21:30 SASTEmirates Stadium
Arsenal's Rollercoaster Run
Arsenal's league form has been erratic, with losses at Bournemouth, Newcastle, and Inter Milan, a draw at Chelsea, and wins against Nottingham Forest, Sporting Lisbon, West Ham, and Man Utd. Their last two EPL fixtures resulted in draws against Fulham and Everton.
Arsenal Squad Status
Takehiro Tomiyasu, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Ben White, and Riccardo Calafiori remain sidelined due to injuries. Gabriel returned from injury on Saturday, but Declan Rice might miss this game due to fatigue, with Jorginho potentially starting in his place. A significant amount of rotation is expected, with Ethan Nwaneri, Gabriel Jesus, and Leandro Trossard likely to feature.
Arsenal's Focus
Arsenal face Palace twice in four days, with the league meeting at Selhurst Park on Saturday taking priority. Mikel Arteta will rotate his team for this fixture, aiming for a 90-minute victory while avoiding unnecessary injuries.
Crystal Palace's Fortune
Palace began the season mediocrely, losing five and drawing three of their first eight league matches. However, they've since lost just once in nine games. Highlights include a 1-0 home win over Tottenham and a 3-1 victory at Brighton, where they produced a stellar performance with just 35% possession.
Crystal Palace's Team News
Forwards Matheus Franca and Adam Wharton are out, while Chadi Riad and Rob Holding are unlikely to play in this one. Daniel Munoz is available despite being suspended for the upcoming league fixture. Olivier Glasner might field his best XI, with Matt Turner expected to start in goal and Cheick Doucoure and Eddie Nketiah rotation possibilities.
Crystal Palace's Morale Boost
With a solid squad and excellent defensive resilience, Palace can make life tough for even the most formidable opponents. They're taking the competition seriously, eager to pull off an upset at the Emirates.
Key Statistics
- Arsenal has netted 19 goals in their last 7 matches.
- Bukayo Saka has scored 5 goals in his last 7 matches.
- Palace has lost just 1 of their last 9 matches (all competitions).
- Palace has lost their last 4 encounters against Arsenal, conceding 12 goals.
Betting Strategy
This match promises to be a tight affair, especially if Palace fields their strongest lineup and Arsenal rotates their squad. My top pick is a possible draw in 90 minutes.
Best Bet: Both Teams to Score at 1.95Value Bet: Draw at 4.45Correct Score Tip: Arsenal 1-1 Crystal Palace at 8.25
Source: James O'Connor, Football Analyst Twitter
- The upcoming fixture at the Emirates on Wednesday, 18 December 2024, will pit Arsenal against Crystal Palace in a 21:30 SAST match.
- Arsenal's league form has been unpredictable, with victories against Nottingham Forest, Sporting Lisbon, West Ham, and Man Utd, draws against Fulham and Everton, and losses at Bournemouth, Newcastle, Inter Milan, and Chelsea.
- Riccardo Calafiori, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Ben White are currently injured, and Jorginho may start in Declan Rice's place. However, Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard are expected to feature, with some rotation anticipated.
- Arsenal prioritizes the league meeting at Selhurst Park on Saturday, aiming for a 90-minute victory while protecting their players from unnecessary injuries.
- Crystal Palace started the season poorly but has since lost only once in nine games, with notable victories over Tottenham and Brighton. Chadi Riad, Rob Holding, Matheus Franca, and Adam Wharton are unavailable, but Daniel Munoz and Olivier Glasner might field their best XI.
- With a solid squad and strong defensive resilience, Crystal Palace aims to cause an upset at the Emirates and challenge even the most formidable opponents.
- According to the statistics, Arsenal has netted 19 goals in their last 7 matches, with Bukayo Saka scoring 5 goals in the same period. Palace has lost only 1 of their last 9 matches and has lost their last 4 encounters against Arsenal, conceding 12 goals. Given these factors, the match is predicted to be a tight affair, with the best bet being both teams scoring at 1.95, the value bet being a draw at 4.45, and the correct score tip being Arsenal 1-1 Crystal Palace at 8.25.
