Arsenal vs Crystal Palace pick: Premier League predictions, odds

Sunday’s only Premier League game will have massive ramifications at both ends of the table.

With a win over Crystal Palace, league leaders Arsenal would enter the final international break of the season eight points ahead of Manchester City with one game more played.

Palace, meanwhile, are now firmly in the relegation battle with just three points separating them from the drop zone.

Are Palace hoping for one of the biggest results of the season?

Choice between Crystal Palace and Arsenal

Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace were one of the Premier League’s most impressive sides last season.

The Eagles punched past their weight en route to a 12th place finish and their expected goal difference suggested they deserved even better.

Palace’s defense was the driving force behind their success, with the Eagles finishing seventh in goals conceded and fifth in expected goals conceded.

This defensive performance is what made Crystal Palace a fashionable sleeper pick for the 2022-23 season.

Palace then backed up all that hype with a terrific performance on the opening day of the season.

Despite losing 2-0 to Arsenal, Palace looked tough and probably deserved a better result on the day. Everything was looking up for the Eagles.

Unfortunately, things have gone wrong since that day.

The Eagles struggled in all phases of play, but the defense has completely lost track compared to what we saw in 2021-22.

The Eagles rank 12th in expected non-penalty goals allowed, 13th in high scoring chances conceded and are the fourth-worst team in the league to keep the opposition out of their 18-yard box.

It’s a strange turn of events considering it’s essentially the same unit we saw last year with the same manager.

Arsenal should have no problem breaking down this Palace defence.

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The Gunners take more shots and create more box entries than any Premier League side and rank second in expected goals created and high scoring chances generated.

Arsenal can probably name their score on Sunday.

That said, there are cracks starting to show in Arsenal’s defence.

After a brilliant first half of the season, the Gunners have seen their defensive numbers drop a little since the World Cup break.

Arsenal still have one of the best defenses in the world, but their form has wavered and Palace could find a way on the scoresheet.

Arsenal should do most of the heavy lifting for that over 3.5, but Palace can contribute as well.

Prediction Crystal Palace vs Arsenal

Over 3.5 goals (+195, FanDuel)