Game Week 28 Predictions: Arsenal to beat Palace

Game Week 28 Predictions: Arsenal to beat Palace at the Emirates - Premier League preview, betting tips, team news

 

Arsenal must win to create a daylight between them and Manchester City who doesn't play until April. (Photo credit: InsideSport)

Arsenal vs Crystal Palace

Emirates Stadium

3:00pm

How else do you want the Premier League to serve you the shocks? On a given day, you need to gain some ground on the chasing pack and also close in on the teams above you, Tottenham and Chelsea, which both conjure dropping points.

This is Arsenal’s window of opportunity to go eight clear of Manchester City and heap the pressure on the champions who tore Burnley apart in the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday at the Etihad.

Arsenal will file out on Sunday without William Saliba, who has been confirmed to be out for "several weeks," and Takehiro Tomiyasu, who left the Emirates on Thursday on crutches.

Both players got injured in the penalty shootout loss to Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League.

Crystal Palace hit rock bottom already and may have nothing to lose, which in itself is a problem for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.

The Eagles fired Patrick Vieira on Friday, and reports suggest former manager Roy Hodgson could be on his way back to the club.

Crystal Palace hasn’t won a Premier League game this year.

And having gone twelve games in total without registering three points, the club hierarchy concluded they'd seen enough and showed the manager the exit door.

Facing a club without a manager, staring down the relegation zone, and being in danger of being drawn into the dogfight could be tricky for Arteta's men.

This year’s relegation fight would be the stiffest ever witnessed, and there wouldn’t be room for error.

Arsenal will have to trust Rob Holding and hope he replicates what Saliba brings to the game as Gabriel Maghalaes’ partner in defence.

With Tomiyasu out, Ben White continues at right back, but it shows how thin the Gunners are in the fullback department.

Palace will not be able to field Albert Sambi Lokonga, as he cannot face his parent company.

But whoever is called on to stand in, attention to details and the discipline to withdraw from tackles would go a long way in helping the Eagles stay in the game.

Arsenal opened their account for the season with a decent 2-0 win at Selhurst Park, and they can also create daylight between themselves and the champions with another win here.

Crystal Palace has always troubled Arsenal at the Emirates, and they can do it again on Sunday.

On paper, Arsenal should be the favourites here, and if they do want to win the league, these are games you win to show how strong you are mentally. Chelsea and Spurs dropped points on their wildcard weekend; over to you, Arsenal.

Verdict: Straight win Arsenal