Game Week 2 Predictions: Arsenal to beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst

Palace would hope to get good result when Arsenal visits on Monday but the Gunners also have their eyes at the top. (Photo credit: Inside Sport)

Crystal Palace vs. Arsenal

Selhurst Park

8:00pm

Crystal Palace is looking good and would be looking to upset Arsenal at Selhurst on Monday night’s football to build on their 1-0 away win at Sheffield United last weekend.

The Eagles beat the Blades 1-0 through a fine Odsonne Edouard finish early in the second half, and they will be looking to build on that when Arsenal comes to town. Palace struggled last season but weathered the storm with the arrival of veteran Roy Hodgson.

Arsenal beat Nottingham, Forest, 2-1 on the opening day, but it was a game the Gunners could have won by a wider margin. Arsenal showed some strong signs of keeping up with last season’s standards but also showed some concerns later in the second half.

Arsenal opened last season with a 2-0 win away to Palace, a result that started off their best-ever start to a season in the Premier League era. Arsenal also lost Jurien Timber to a long-term injury in the game, and you wonder if Arsenal would break into the market again for cover.

How will the teams line up? Palace has lost Wilfred Zaha, but a core of last season’s team remains and will be ready when Arsenal visits. Edouard and André Ayew are still expected to lead the line, with Eberechi Eze playing behind them.

Palace will defend as a unit and try to break Arsenal on the counter. The Eagles would be without Michael Olise, who continues to heal from a hamstring problem, but they will celebrate his new contract with Chelsea, which triggers his release clause.

Arsenal will keep almost the same lineup that beat Forest last week, with either Takehiro Tomiyasu or the returning Alex Zinchenko coming in for the injured Jurien Timber. Kai Havertz is expected to keep his place in the middle of the park.

Will Mikel Arteta make changes to his goal? That is left to be seen, but Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Martin Odegaard are all expected to feature. It’s a game Arsenal must win to keep the pressure up at the top, but Palace will not be a walkover.

Verdict: Arsenal to win