We have some Premier League action this Thursday evening with one match from the division taking place as we continue to head towards the halfway mark of the campaign. It is a London derby too as Arsenal host Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium.
Both these sides are in the bottom half of the table heading into the game but they can make advances with a win so there should be plenty of competitiveness and hopefully a fair bit of quality on show throughout the evening.
Where to watch
The match will be screened live on the Sky Sports Main Event and the Sky Sports Premier League channels with the programme beginning at 7.30pm and the match itself kicking off at 8pm.
Arsenal
There has been a lot written about Arsenal this season, and given their start to the campaign a lot of it was justified, but they look to have found a bit of a groove now and go into this match in the best from they have been in at any stage of the campaign. They have won their last three in the Premier League and although they needed extra time they also made it through in the FA Cup last weekend so they should be feeling good about themselves here.
It hasn’t always been convincing in this run for Arsenal but you can never criticise a team for winning, particularly under the pressure they were playing with on their shoulders. I’m sure the Arsenal fans will long for the swashbuckling and entertaining style they became known for a decade or so ago but for the time being winning matters more. With that in mind, successive clean sheets suggests they are getting their act together.
Crystal Palace
I wouldn’t say the wheels have completely fallen off for Crystal Palace but they go into this match in the middle of a run of just two wins in 10 in all competitions and don’t look like they have that zest in their play that we are used to seeing. They have never been an expansive side under Roy Hodgson but they have always carried a positive threat, but confidence in that area of the pitch looks like it has taken a bit of a dip in recent times.
Again you can never criticise a team for winning but it should probably be noted that their two wins in this run came against West Brom and Sheffield United, comfortably the worst two sides in the league, so their form looks like it is being flattered a little. Even if Palace weren’t to win this match, if they can offer up a positive performance and something that they can build on in future games it would be something as they look to end this slump they are in.
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Team News
Arsenal are hopeful that they will have Thomas Partey back for this match after he has recovered from the thigh issue which has kept him out for the last month. Gabriel could also return but the injury sustained by Gabriel Martinelli in the warm-up prior to the Newcastle game last week is set to keep him out.
Crystal Palace will be without defender Mamadou Sakho who picked up a thigh injury in the FA Cup defeat to Wolves last week. They are more positive about a return for Gary Cahill however while Eberechi Eze is available despite his breach of Covid-19 protocols.
Betting
This isn’t an easy match to bet on because I expect Arsenal to win but they rarely win convincingly and Crystal Palace should at least carry some sort of threat and were they to score you would probably need snookers with regards to them covering a handicap and things like that. I do think there is a way into this match betting wise though and it comes in the form of Luka Milivojevic, a man who has a decent record against Arsenal.
The Serbian midfielder has scored in five of his last six matches against the Gunners and I get the impression that could be significant here. We shouldn’t necessarily be surprised because the Eagles’ captain takes the free kicks around the area and the penalties and Arsenal’s defenders are incredibly sloppy with their tackling in their third of the pitch. Although Hodgson says Eze is available for this match I doubt he’ll start because neither needs the hassle that will bring so Milivojevic should be on all the dead balls. That makes me think the 13/5 that he has at least one shot on target is a little big, especially with Chelsea getting a penalty here in the last Premier League game on this ground, and at 17/2 I’ll pay to see if the SOT he has finds the net at some point.
Tips
Back L.Milivojevic 1+ Shot on target for a 2/10 stake at 3.60 with Betfair
Back him here:
Back L.Milivojevic to score anytime for a 1/10 stake at 9.00 with Coral
Back him here:
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