Arsenal v Crystal Palace predictions: Gunners can edge entertaining contest

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Arsenal v Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Monday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Premier League & Main Event, 8pm Monday

Best bet

Arsenal to win & both teams to score
1pt 13-5 general

Team news

Arsenal
Granit Xhaka remains sidelined while Gabriel Martinelli is a doubt.

Crystal Palace
Eberechi Eze and Nathan Ferguson are long-term absentees.

Match preview

Patrick Vieira is revered among Arsenal supporters for the success he enjoyed with the Gunners during a nine-year spell at the club but he returns to north London on Monday in the midst of an exciting new project as Crystal Palace manager.

Gunners legend Vieira arrived at Selhurst Park at the start of the season hoping to take the Eagles to the next level after an established period under Roy Hodgson.

The Frenchman has implemented a more adventurous style than that of the Hodgson era and the Eagles have put in some barnstorming performances in a 3-0 win over Tottenham and 2-2 draws with both West Ham and Leicester.

The Eagles are only averaging just over one goal per game but summer additions Odsonne Edouard and Michael Olise have looked sharp and the progressive, high-intensity pressing approach adopted by Vieira surely points to goals in Monday's London derby at the Emirates.

For all their attacking improvement, Palace still have work to do at the other end of the pitch and have managed only one win from seven Premier League games this season, suffering heavy away defeats at Chelsea and Liverpool.

Arsenal also struggled against the top flight's big guns in the early stages of the campaign but have responded with four wins and a draw in their last five matches in all competitions, including a swashbuckling 3-1 defeat of north London rivals Tottenham in their last home outing.

They look the better bet to win this game armed with home advantage and given their recent clean sheets against Norwich, Burnley and Brighton in the Premier League, punters may even anticipate another shutout.

But Palace offer far more attacking impetus than those three sides and the top performances of new goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has somewhat masked the defensive deficiencies of Mikel Arteta's side.

Only Newcastle and Norwich have a worse expected-goals-against figure than Arsenal (13.45) this term and even in their goalless draw at Brighton last time out, Arsenal allowed the Seagulls 21 shots and a better attacking side would have made them pay.

Palace's pacey attack should cause the Gunners problems so a bet on Arsenal to win and both teams to score could be the way to go.

Both teams have scored in seven of the last eight meetings between these sides and another high-octane affair looks likely between two teams who, despite showing signs of promise, are still very much in transition.

Key stat

Arsenal have lost only one of their last seven matches in all competitions.

Inside info

Arsenal

Penalty taker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Free-kick wizard Martin Odegaard
Set-piece aerial threat Gabriel
Card magnet Albert Sambi Lokonga

Crystal Palace

Penalty taker Wilfried Zaha/Luka Milivojevic
Free-kick wizard Luka Milivojevic
Set-piece aerial threat Joachim Andersen
Card magnet Joel Ward

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