The only Premier League game on Sunday will have massive ramifications at both ends of the table.
With a win over Crystal Palace, league leaders Arsenal would go into the final international break of the season with an eight-point lead over Manchester City with one more game played.
Palace, meanwhile, are now firmly in the relegation battle with just three points separating them from the relegation zone.
Do Palace have any hope of achieving one of the best results of the season?
Selection of Crystal Palace against Arsenal
Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace were one of the most impressive teams in the Premier League last season.
The Eagles punched above their weight en route to 12th place and the expected goal difference suggested they deserved better.
Palace’s defense was the driving force behind their success, as the Eagles finished seventh in goals conceded and fifth in expected goals allowed.
That defensive performance is what made Crystal Palace a fashionable sleeper option for the 2022-23 season.
Palace then backed up all that hype with a terrific showing on the Opening Day of the season.
Although they lost, 2-0, to Arsenal, Palace looked like a tough nut to crack 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 have struggled in all phases of the game, but the defense has completely lost the plot compared to what we saw in 2021-22.
The Eagles rank 12th in expected goals allowed without a penalty, 13th in great chances conceded and are the fourth-worst team on tour to prevent the opposition from entering their 18-yard box.
It’s a strange turn of events considering this is basically the same unit we saw last year with the same manager.
Arsenal should have no problem breaking through this Palace defence.
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The Gunners take more shots and create more tackles in the box than any team in the Premier League and rank second in both expected goals created and great scoring chances generated.
Arsenal will likely be able to name their score on Sunday.
That being said, there are some cracks starting to show in the Arsenal defence.
After a brilliant first half of the season, the Gunners have seen their defensive numbers drop a bit since the World Cup break.
Arsenal still boast one of the best defenses in the world, but their form has faltered and Palace could find a way on the scoreboard.
Arsenal should do most of the heavy lifting above 3.5, but Palace can also contribute.
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal betting tip and prediction
Over 3.5 goals (+195, FanDuel)
