On Monday we'll be treated to a big all-London clash between Crystal Palace and Arsenal under the lights at Selhurst Park. Both sides started with three points in their first Premier League game but both will have their eyes on finishing in different areas on the Premier League table.
After the news that Michael Olise was signing a new contract at Palace is there a chance that Roy Hodgson’s men could pull off a shock and upset Premier League title contenders Arsenal? Premier League odds suggest not, but you just never know. Don’t miss our Crystal Palace vs Arsenal free picks and predictions.
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal best odds
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal picks and predictions
Every Monday we get treated to a great Premier League game under the floodlights and this week it’s no different with that match coming from Selhurst Park as Crystal Palace face Arsenal. The North London club face a short trip across town to South London to face Roy Hodgson’s Palace.
Both clubs started their seasons well as they picked up maximum points. That said it’s worth noting that neither team had to overcome a team expected to finish in the top half of the Premier League with Arsenal beating Nottingham Forest 2-1, while Palace snuck past a terrible Sheffield United team 1-0.
Crystal Palace managed to finish 11th in the Premier League season with Hodgson doing a great job in keeping the club in the Premier League following a dreadful run under previous manager Patrick Vieira. It’s fair to question whether Hodgson had an easier run of fixtures but regardless of that he managed to bring the good times back to Selhurst Park. This summer the club said goodbye to the iconic Wilfried Zaha who moved to Turkey and it looked like they’d lose one of their brightest young talents in Michael Olise. This week it was announced that he was signing a new deal with the club, putting an end to speculation of a move to Chelsea. It’s fair to say that this was a huge shock and the feelgood factor is back in South London. However, I’m still very concerned for the club this year even if they hold onto Olise and Eberechi Eze. Which is why for my best bet I’m backing Arsenal to win and Under 2.5 goals.
The biggest issue with this Palace team is goals, especially with Zaha gone, a player who dug the club out of a mess numerous times in previous seasons. Last year they scored just 40 goals, less than both Leicester and Leeds who got relegated. Eze bagged 10 but the strikers Odsonne Edouard, Jean-Phillipe Mateta and Jordan Ayew combined for just 11 goals. They’ve signed Matheus Franca but he won’t be playing in this game which is going to be a big issue against a good Arsenal defense.
Arsenal might be missing new defensive Jurrien Timber who was lost to injury last week but they still have a very strong backline and should be able to keep an impotent Palace team out. With the injury to Gabriel Jesus it’s probably fair to say that goals are arguably Arsenal’s biggest issues too. Eddie Nketiah isn’t really good enough to be a starter at the club and doesn’t link play in the manner of Jesus.
That said Arsenal still have Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli who can attack from wide, as well as Kai Havertz who has arrived from Chelsea in the offseason. Arsenal have enough quality to win this one but in truth it’s hard to see them blowing Palace away given how strong they can be at the back under Hodgson. Backing Arsenal to win and Under 2.5 goals feels like monster value at +260.
My best bet: Arsenal and Under 2.5 goals (+260 at Bet365)
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal same-game parlay
Arsenal moneyline
Under 2.5 goals
Bukayo Saka anytime goal
How about a +1400 Same-Game Parlay for Monday?
Our first two legs are fairly straight forward given that they are both part of our best bet for this game. First up we’re going to go with an Arsenal win which would see the Gunners stay level on points at the top of the Premier League table. This is a strong Arsenal team who have improved hugely under Mikel Arteta, particularly mentally where they’ve become winners and are now able to play until the end of a game and steal late winners, something they suffered with under previous managers.
Then we’ll be backing Under 2.5 goals because, as mentioned above, I don’t think either team are currently at their best in terms of goalscoring. Arsenal struggled to put Nottingham Forest away last week and the movement of Gabriel Jesus is a big loss for the team. Likewise I have no confidence at all in Palace managing to score past one of the Premier League’s best defensive units.
Then our final is for 21-year old Bukayo Saka to score. He was fantastic against Forest last week, taking three shots and converting one. Over the past 18 months he’s developed into a true world class player and somebody who would walk into any team on the planet. He scored 14 Premier League goals last year and I’m confident that he’ll bag even more this year, including in this game.
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Crystal Palace vs Arsenal spread and Over/Under analysis
Arsenal are -167 to win Monday’s game and personally, I find it hard to see anything but three points for the Gunners. That said I’m always skeptical of backing anything with such short odds, so I’d suggest combining that with another market such as my best bet for Arsenal and Under 2.5 goals, which I think gives you huge value.
You can grab +320 on the draw or even +510 on Crystal Palace but I can’t be tempted to go near either of those wagers, especially with Michael Olise missing despite that freshly signed contract. This is still a flawed Palace squad that is missing the goalscorer it needs to fire the club up the Premier League table.
If you’re looking at the Total Goals market then you’d have seen it’s nearly a pick’em with Over 2.5 coming in at -108 and the Under landing at -110. Given how Arsenal struggled in front of goal against a Nottingham Forest who are defensively inferior to Palace I’m not confident of them scoring three goals here and I can’t see Palace even bagging one, for that reason I have to take the Under here.
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Crystal Palace vs Arsenal game info
| Location: | Selhurst Park, Whitehorse Lane, London |
| Date: | Monday, August 21, 2023 |
| Time: | 3:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | Peacock Premium, fubo TV, Sling Blue, Hulu + Live TV |
| Weather: | Temperatures will be in the low 70s at kickoff after what’s expected to be a dry day in London. |
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal key injuries
Crystal Palace: Michael Olise RW (Out), Matheus Franca FWR (Out), Will Hughes CM (Out)
Arsenal: Gabriel Jesus STR (Out), Jurrien Timber DEF (Out), Mohamed Elneny CM (Out), Oleksandr Zinchenko DEF (Questionable), Albert Sambi Lokonga CM (Questionable)
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal recent league form
| Teams | Recent Premier League Form |
|---|---|
 Crystal Palace |
W |
 Arsenal |
W |
