Crystal Palace v Arsenal predictions: Top-four hopefuls can grind out tight win

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

Where to watch

Sky Sports Premier League & Main Event, 8pm Monday

Best bets

Arsenal to win 1-0
1pt 13-2 bet365

Arsenal to win 2-0
1pt 9-1 bet365

Team news

Crystal Palace
The Eagles have fitness doubts over forwards Wilfried Zaha and Michael Olise. Joel Ward, Nathan Ferguson and James McArthur will also be assessed.

Arsenal
Bernd Leno may continue in goal as Aaron Ramsdale is likely to miss out. Bukayo Saka (Covid) should be available and right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu (calf) could be in the squad for the first time since January.

Match preview

Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira has had some enjoyable reunions with his former clubs in the Premier League this season and confidence should be high in both camps when Palace welcome Arsenal to Selhurst Park.

Vieira was denied a victory away to the Gunners, where he enjoyed a terrific playing career between 1996 and 2005, by an injury-time equaliser from Alexandre Lacazette in a 2-2 draw in October.

The Frenchman finished his playing days at Manchester City, where he also cut his teeth as reserve-team coach, and his Palace side have done him proud against the Citizens, winning 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium in the autumn and holding out for a goalless draw at home shortly before the international break.

The Eagles have suffered just one defeat in their last ten matches in all competitions and that was a 1-0 league loss to Chelsea, sealed by an 89th-minute goal from Hakim Ziyech.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta – like Vieira, a former Gunners captain – will be wary of the feelgood factor around Selhurst Park after Palace thumped Everton 4-0 in the FA Cup quarter-finals and provided three players for Gareth Southgate's latest England squad.

Those three, Chelsea loanee Conor Gallagher and impressive young defenders Marc Guehi and Tyrick Mitchell, returned from international duty unscathed but Palace have fitness concerns over two of their attacking gems, Wilfried Zaha and Michael Olise.

They are no longer as reliant on Zaha's individual brilliance as they were during the Roy Hodgson era but Arsenal would undoubtedly be in for an easier evening if the Ivorian international and France Under-21 winger Olise were unavailable.

A competitive contest looks likely between two clubs who have made great strides this season. While Palace are targeting a top-half finish and an FA Cup semi-final upset against Chelsea, the Gunners have boosted their chances of a return to the Champions League after ten wins in their last 13 league matches.

Fourth place looks the ceiling for a young Arsenal squad at this stage of their development and they have lost all five of their games against the top three this term, including home defeats to Manchester City and Liverpool in 2022.

Their record against the rest of the division, however, is outstanding: 17 victories in 23 matches including five 1-0 wins and four 2-0 successes.

Splitting stakes between those two correct scores could be the best way to back the visitors as Arteta's men have defended well for most of the season and shown some real grit in recent victories.

Their last three away trips included 1-0 wins at Wolves and Aston Villa while they saw off Leicester, another mid-table outfit, 2-0 at the Emirates before losing by the same scoreline to title-chasing Liverpool.

Key stat

Arsenal have won 17 of their 23 matches against teams outside the top three this season.

Inside info

Crystal Palace

Penalty taker Wilfried Zaha/Odsonne Edouard
Free-kick wizard Conor Gallagher
Set-piece aerial threat Cheikhou Kouyate
Card magnet Conor Gallagher

Arsenal

Penalty taker Alexandre Lacazette
Free-kick wizard Martin Odegaard
Set-piece aerial threat Thomas Partey
Card magnet Granit Xhaka

Not got a bet365 account? Bet £10 & get £50 in free bets

Open account offer. Minimum deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as bet credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Minimum odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude bet credits stake. Time limits/T&Cs apply. 18+ begambleaware.org

CLAIM OFFER HERE

MORE FREE BETS

Sign up to emails from Racing Post Sport and get all the latest news and tips

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport