Crystal Palace vs Arsenal
19 May 1900hrs
Football – England – Premier League
Pick Over 2.5 goals
Bookmaker Betfair
Odds: 17/20 odds taken 2000 GMT, Friday 14 May
This will be Roy Hodgson’s last game in charge of Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park so will be looking to go out in style against an Arsenal team going for a fourth straight league win.
Table of Contents
Crystal Palace Preview – Will Palace end Hodgson’s home reign on a winning note?
Roy Hogdson announced on Tuesday that he would be calling time on his near four year spell in charge of Palace after their season concludes at Anfield on Sunday. There is some irony as to the setting for that final match but it’s not a huge surprise to see him depart his current club now. Although Palace have been safe from relegation under his tenure, there have been growing dissent from the supporters about the style of play. It could well be a case of careful what you wish for but there will be a new man in the dugout next season.
Palace’s highest finishing position under Hodgson is 11th but with five points between themselves and that spot just now, it looks unlikely.
The Eagles did celebrate a good win at the weekend when defeating Aston Villa 3-2. They came from behind twice in that game and considering one of the complaints from the supporters is the lack of goals in the team, it showed the firepower they do possess.
That was just a third win in their last 11 league games but defeat to Southampton apart it’s been a tricky run of fixtures, with all four of their other defeats coming against teams currently in the top seven.
Arsenal Preview – Can Arsenal make it four straight league wins for the first time under Arteta?
There’s no doubt this has been an underwhelming campaign for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta. There is an outside chance they could sneak into a European spot but that looks very unlikely and instead it will be a top half-finish with the disappointment of missing out on a Europa League final spot still very fresh in their memories. It’s almost certainly going to be the Spaniard in charge for next season but there has to be significant improvement.
It’s not just been the failures to get more consistency in their results but also the type of performances the team have produced throughout the campaign.
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To highlight those struggles, Arsenal are attempting to win a fourth consecutive league game for the first time under Arteta and the first time in the Premier League since 2018. It’s a pretty damning statistic but sums them up in recent years and what they need to work on if they are to challenge for the top six and better.
Where the Gunners have been good is in defence. Their concession of 38 goals is the third best record in the league and definitely gives them something to build upon.
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal Betting Advice
It’s fitting that there will be supporters at Selhurst Park as Hodgson bids farewell to the club. Regardless of how some see him, there’s no doubt it’s been a successful period as the club remain an established top-flight club. Arsenal will be looking to spoil the party of course, for reasons explained above. But there was nothing to separate the teams at the Emirates back in January in a match which ended goalless.
That previous six meetings between the teams seen both teams scoring in each of them for a total of 25 goals.
Key Facts – Crystal Palace vs Arsenal Betting Tip
- Hodgson’s final game in charge of his four year spell at Palace will come away to former club Liverpool on Sunday
- The last time Arsenal won four straight league matches was back in 2018
- January’s goalless draw was the first match in seven between the two where both teams have not scored
I expect this will be a game that sees a return of goals in the fixture. Five of the last six meetings at Selhurst Park have seen at least three goals scored in each and that’s the bet here again.
