Arsenal host Crystal Palace in the League Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday as Mikel Arteta is fully focused on winning a trophy.
The Gunners have been struggling to score from open play in recent weeks, with their last three goals in their last three Premier League games all coming from set-pieces. Arteta was generally happy with their performance in a 0-0 draw at home to Everton on Saturday but demanded more in the final third. Arsenal will rotate a little for this quarterfinal but Arteta knows this competition is a great opportunity to get to Wembley and win a first major trophy since his first season in charge.
Crystal Palace have had a real uptick in results under Oliver Glasner as they won 3-1 away at rivals Crystal Palace on Sunday and are unbeaten in five games in the Premier League, picking up nine points in that run. The Eagles are dangerous on the counter attack and Arsenal will have to be wary of that as they poured so many players forward against Everton on Saturday. Palace are much better at countering than Everton.
How to watch Arsenal vs Crystal Palace live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 2:30pm ET Wednesday (December 18)
Venue: Emirates Stadium — London
TV Channel: Paramount+
Streaming: Paramount+
Arsenal team news, focus
The likes of Ethan Nwaneri, Gabriel Jesus, Jorginho, Kieran Tierney and Raheem Sterling will all surely start as Arsenal will rotate in a few fringe players. But Arsenal don’t have many options in defense so there may not be much rotation there. Declan Rice will have a late fitness test for this game, so Merino and Jorginho could both start.
OUT: Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee), Ben White (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Riccardo Calafiori (knee), Oleksandr Zinchenko (undisclosed), Declan Rice (unknown)
Crystal Palace team news, focus
The trio of Mateta, Eze and Sarr up top are a real handful and Sarr in particular is growing into a real presence at Palace and is perfect for their system. The 3-4-2-1 system is working well for Palace and they are tough to play against again.
OUT: Adam Wharton (groin), Rob Holding (undisclosed), Matheus Franca (groin)
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace prediction
This feels like Arsenal will just get the job done and a few fringe players will stand tall in a thriller. Arsenal 3-2 Crystal Palace.