Arsenal take on Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup this week.
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace best bets
Arsenal to win by one goal - 13/5 with SBK
Draw at half-time - 9/10 with Betfred
Leandro Trossard to score any time - 11/5 with Sky Bet
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace odds
Find the latest match odds for Arsenal vs Crystal Palace. All odds are provided by our best football betting sites. Odds are subject to change.
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace predictions
Arsenal must be kicking themselves. Despite their consistent excellence in 2022/23 and 2023/24, they were denied the Premier League title by a relentless Manchester City side.
This time around, City are going through their first crisis of the Pep Guardiola era, yet Arsenal have not been able to capitalise.
True, they are above Guardiola’s side in the table, albeit by just a three-point margin. But the Gunners are six adrift of top spot having played a game more than its occupant Liverpool.
It is still too early to rule Arsenal out of the title race, yet if the Reds win that match in hand against Everton they would have a nine-point buffer above Mikel Arteta’s men. Chelsea now look like Liverpool’s main challengers, not Arsenal.
If the title does prove to be out of reach, it is crucial that Arsenal get their hands on another piece of silverware.
Arteta led the club to FA Cup glory in 2020, but that was with a different team to the current one. Indeed, of the 14 players that appeared in that final against Manchester City, only Kieran Tierney remains at the Emirates Stadium - and he is the polar opposite a regular these days.
The EFL Cup provides an opportunity for this group of players to claim its first trophy. Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur remain in the tournament, but Arsenal have as good a chance as anyone of going all the way.
The north Londoners have a curiously poor record in the EFL Cup when you consider how successful they have been in the league and the FA Cup over the decades.
Arsenal have triumphed in this competition only twice, in 1987 and 1993. Leicester City (twice), Blackburn Rovers, Middlesbrough, Birmingham City and Swansea City have all tasted EFL Cup success more recently than the Gunners. Their current captain, Martin Odegaard, was not even born the last time an Arsenal skipper hoisted this trophy aloft.
Crystal Palace stand between Arteta’s team and a place in the semi-finals. These two teams are due to meet in the Premier League this weekend and Arsenal will have to fight hard in both matches. Palace have shown in recent matches that they are no pushovers.
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Arsenal vs Crystal Palace betting tips. 18+ GambleAware.org - Please play responsibly.
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace betting tips
Arsenal will be looking to advance to the last four of the EFL Cup by beating Crystal Palace.
Arsenal to win by one goal
Do not be fooled by Crystal Palace’s position near the Premier League relegation zone. Over the last eight rounds of top-flight fixtures, they have collected the same number of points (13) as Arsenal.
Oliver Glasner’s side are starting to pull clear of the bottom three. Their latest success was a particularly sweet one for the club’s fans, who relished every moment of Sunday’s 3-1 victory over arch-rivals Brighton & Hove Albion.
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Arsenal have struggled to break down well-organised defences of late, drawing 1-1 with Fulham and 0-0 with Everton in their last two league outings.
Palace are not easy to break down either and Glasner has tended to name strong sides in this competition, so Arsenal will not be facing a second string.
The hosts should just edge this one, but do not expect them to run riot at the Emirates Stadium.
⚽ Tip Arsenal to win by one goal at 13/5 with SBK ⚽
Draw at half-time
Arsenal have not scored a goal in open play in any of their last three Premier League games. Arteta’s team might be the set-piece kings, but they need to produce more in general play.
As mentioned above, Crystal Palace will not make it easy for them to do that on Wednesday night.
Palace’s defensive three of Trevoh Chalobah, Maxence Lacroix and Marc Guehi give up relatively few chances. Behind them, Dean Henderson is enjoying a fine season after replacing Sam Johnstone as the club’s No.1 goalkeeper last term.
The Eagles were quick out of the blocks in the first half against Brighton, scoring twice before the interval.
On this occasion they would doubtless be happy to go in at half-time with the score level - and we fancy their chances of doing precisely that.
⚽ Back a draw at half-time at 9/10 with Betfred ⚽
Leandro Trossard to score any time
Arsenal are heavily reliant on Bukayo Saka on the right flank. Most of their attacks come down that side of the pitch, which makes them somewhat predictable going forward.
Of course, stopping the likes of Saka and Odegaard down the right is easier said than done, but Arteta needs more from the opposite flank.
Gabriel Martinelli’s output has reduced over the last couple of years. After a flat display against Everton, the Brazilian could lose his place to Leandro Trossard here.
The Belgian will be desperate to make the most of his opportunity. At the odds available, it is worth a flutter on him finding the back of the net.
⚽ Select Leandro Trossard to score any time at 11/5 with Sky Bet ⚽
📺 How to watch Arsenal vs Crystal Palace
Location: Emirates Stadium, London, England.
Date and time: Wednesday 18th December, 7.30pm.
How to watch: Sky Sports Main Event.
Read more about the 2024/25 football season
About the author
Greg Lea
Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.
Follow Greg on X:@GregLeaFootball
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