We have another Premier League match to enjoy on Wednesday evening which takes us to the Emirates Stadium for the clash between the Champions League semi-finalists Arsenal and the FA Cup semi-finalists Crystal Palace.
Technically Arsenal have to win this match in order to prolong the time before Liverpool can get their hands on the title but the reality is that neither have anything significant to play for here so there is a danger this turns into a damp squib.
Where to watch
The match will be shown live and in full on the Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League channels with the build-up beginning at 7.30pm ahead of the kick off at 8pm.
Arsenal
There is a chance that this could be one of the best seasons in the history of Arsenal Football Club if they can take down the Champions League over the next six weeks or so and in many ways the Premier League is getting in the way of those ambitions, although to be fair to the Gunners this tie being moved because of the FA Cup semi-final at the weekend is a touch for them as it will give them six days between this game and the clash with the French champions PSG next Tuesday.
It has to be said that while the league is secondary to the Champions League now that there is next to no chance that they will be crowned winners of it, they haven’t allowed their form to dip too dramatically and they go into this match off the bac of just one defeat in their last 23 in the Premier League. No team has conceded fewer goals than Arsenal in the Premier League this season and only the champions in waiting Liverpool have lost less games than the three the Gunners have been beaten in.
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace were in the middle of a really good run but they have had a tough week or so. I don’t think that is too much of a surprise. In terms of league motivation they are only really playing for prize money but they have a much bigger assignment waiting for them at the weekend as they look to make it to the FA Cup final and set up a shot at European football next season which would propel them to the next level on and off the pitch.
That focus being elsewhere has led to the Eagles going three games without a win and in their last two away matches they have conceded five times in each of them. They will certainly be out to ensure that doesn’t happen again because they won’t want to head to Wembley off the back of three successive five goal shippings but they will know that Arsenal have already scored five against them this term. You do get the feeling that this is a match which is just an inconvenience for Palace and they just want it over and done with.
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Team News
Bukayo Saka went off with what looked like an ankle injury in the win over Ipswich at the weekend and he might be rested as a precaution here. Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhaes, Jorginho and Riccardo Calafiori are among a number of players ruled out.
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner will be forced into one change for this match with Chris Richards suspended after his red card in the stalemate with Bournemouth at the weekend. Glasner has hinted that there maybe two or three other switches to his side rather than wholesale changes.
Betting
I find it hard to believe that even with their attention on the Champions League tie next week that Arsenal won’t win this match. That tie begins on Tuesday and Crystal Palace have a massive semi-final for their players on Saturday evening so it is only human nature for their minds to be on that rather than a match which doesn’t mean anything to them. It isn’t like they are going to impact the title race because it is a matter of time before Liverpool land the crown.
Arsenal are a little short to back on their own though so we need to find a way of putting some juice onto the price and if they get in front early they could easily run away with this one so putting 2.5 goals on top makes a lot of sense to me. Crystal Palace have just conceded five at Man City and Newcastle and can’t really care much for this one but they are known to be good for a goal at the other end so a 3-1 or 4-1 Arsenal sort of score isn’t out of the realms of possibility to me.
Tips
Back Arsenal to win and over 2.5 goals for a 3/10 stake at Boylesports
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