Arsenal host Crystal Palace this evening as they strive to keep the Premier League title race alive, and it’s live on talkSPORT.
This is a strange game because both teams are looking at the cups, with their domestic campaigns all but over.
The Gunners know if they lose here, they will hand Liverpool the top-flight title before the Reds even have to kick another ball.
Mikel Arteta‘s men will also have a firm focus on next Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain.
Meanwhile, for Crystal Palace, their push for European football has somewhat collapsed in the space of a week.
But they are in the FA Cup semi-finals this weekend, and the Eagles have the chance to win their first-ever piece of silverware this season.
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace: Dilemma
A nasty tackle on Bukayo Saka in the 4-0 win over Ipswich Town at the weekend raised some questions over Arteta’s use of his squad ahead of the Champions League semi-finals.
The Gunners are almost guaranteed to finish second and are into the last four of Europe’s elite competition.
That means those games against PSG are going to define Arsenal‘s season.
So, ahead of those matches, does Arteta try to rotate his squad or continue to play a strong team to build momentum?
It’s an interesting debate, and it’s likely the Spaniard will only be judged once the outcome of the PSG tie is known.
You would expect he’ll continue playing a strong side, but if they pick up injuries in the coming weeks, that would be a bad look.
- Arsenal have won their last five Premier League games against Crystal Palace, netting exactly five goals in both of the last two.
- Having been unbeaten in four Premier League away games against Arsenal between 2019 and 2021 (W1 D3), Crystal Palace have lost their two league visits to the Emirates by an aggregate score of 9-1.
- Arsenal have lost just three of their last 36 home Premier League matches (W26 D7), though two of those three have been in London derbies, both defeats to West Ham in December 2023 (0-2) and February this season (0-1).
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace: Team news
After the tackle on Saka, he carried on before leaving the pitch early in the second half, but he is expected to be fine.
Riccardo Calafiori are the closest to returning for Arsenal, but this game is expected to be too soon.
Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Magalhaes are all long-term absentees.
Ben White is fully fit, so he could come back in while Myles Lewis-Skelly also might return to the starting XI.
For Palace, Chris Richards will be missing after two yellow cards against Bournemouth at the weekend.
It also remains to be seen if Oliver Glasner decides to rest players ahead of the FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa.
- Crystal Palace have won three Premier League London derbies this season, last winning more in a single top-flight campaign in 1990-91 (5).
- Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 42 home Premier League games when they’ve scored first (W36 D6), since losing 2-1 to Man City on New Year’s Day 2022. The Gunners have failed to win four times when scoring first at the Emirates this season (W8 D4), however, their most in a season since 2019-20 (5).
- Crystal Palace have won their last two away Premier League London derbies, beating West Ham and Fulham 2-0 each time. That’s more wins than in their previous 22 away London derbies combined (W1 D11 L10). They last won three in a row between April 1995 and November 1997.
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace: What has been said?
Arteta said after the win over Ipswich that Saka had avoided any form of injury.
He said: “He was a bit sore, but it’s nothing serious, so it’s good.
“I haven’t seen the slow motion, I’ve just seen the normal pace image and yeah, he cuts him from the back.
“I don’t think it’s intentional at all, but it’s dangerous because he cannot really react to anything, because you cannot see him coming.”
- Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s worst month for Premier League points per game at the Emirates is in April (18 in 12 games, 1.5 points per game), losing more games in that month (4) than any other.
- Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli has scored five goals in his last five Premier League games against Crystal Palace, while his six goals against the Eagles overall is his most against any opponent.
- Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has had a hand in seven goals in his last eight appearances at the Emirates (4 goals, 3 assists). In all competitions, only Bukayo Saka (15) and Kai Havertz (14) have more goals and assists combined than Rice on home soil for the Gunners this season (11 – 5 goals, 6 assists).
- Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta has been involved in five goals in his last seven Premier League London derbies (4 goals, 1 assist), scoring in three this season against Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and West Ham. Only three Eagles players have scored in four games in one season – Andrew Johnson in 2004-05 (6), Jordan Ayew in 2019-20 (4) and Christian Benteke in 2020-21 (4).
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace: How to follow
This Premier League game is set to take place on Wednesday, April 23.
Kick-off at the Emirates is set for 8pm.
talkSPORT will have live and exclusive coverage, with Adrian Durham serving as your host.
Commentary will come from Nigel Adderley and former Chelsea defender Scott Minto.
talkSPORT.com will also have regular updates on our dedicated blog.
To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
Arsenal vs Crystal Palace: talkSPORT BET Odds
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