Crystal Palace vs Arsenal prediction: ENGLAND: Premier League betting tips on match 2023-08-20 19:00.
The first game of the post Wilfried Zaha era went almost exactly as planned for Crystal Palace, who battled past newly-promoted Sheffield United on the opening day of the Premier League (PL) season. Manager Roy Hodgson described the victory as “consoling” given the quality of performance, and the Eagles will hope they can back that up by winning back-to-back games to start the season for just the second time since 2006/07.
Their form since Hodgson’s re-appointment is bound to fill the fans with confidence, as Palace have been beaten just twice since the 76-year-old resumed control of the club (W6, D3). They’re even better at Selhurst Park where the Eagles have lost just one of the last ten PL matches (W3, D6), and the home crowd is bound to be buoyed by the news that winger Michael Olise rejected a move to Chelsea in favour of signing a new contract.
The only blight on that home record came against Manchester City, a side opponents Arsenal have already beaten on their way to silverware this season. The Gunners consolidated that success by beating Nottingham Forest 2-1 on the opening day of the PL campaign, but manager Mikel Arteta believed his side “should have killed the game” earlier. His biggest concern remains his injury list though, as new signing Jurrien Timber joined Gabriel Jesus on the treatment table.
Arsenal began their 2022/23 season with victory on this ground (2-0), a feat they’ll be hoping to repeat in a H2H they’ve dominated in the PL era (W16, D8, L4). Travelling across the capital is unlikely to faze the Gunners as they went unbeaten in away London derbies in the PL last term (W5, D1), while no side in the division won more points on the road than they did last season (37).
Players to watch: Palace frontman Odsonne Édouard hit the winner against Sheffield United – six of his eight goals since the start of the 2022/23 season have been match openers. Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka was also on target on the opening day, and he has good memories of this fixture having scored twice and assisted another in a 4-1 victory over Palace in March.
Hot stat: There’s been an average of over three goals per game across the last ten H2Hs on this ground.