The EFL Cup quarter-final between Arsenal and Crystal Palace will take place on December 23 at the Emirates Stadium in London. Arsenal v Crystal Palace: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Arsenal
The Gunners last won this competition in 2018 and have since reached the semi-finals twice. The most recent run came last season when Newcastle eliminated them, winning both legs 2-0. Mikel Arteta's side have a chance to reach the last four again, not least because the tie is at the Emirates, where they already beat their London neighbours in the current Premier League campaign (a 1-0 win in Matchday 9). Worth noting: Arsenal have yet to concede in this season's competition, recording identical 2-0 victories over Port Vale and Brighton.
- At least one side failed to score in four of Arsenal's previous EFL Cup matches.
- Arsenal have scored two or more goals in 5 of their last 7 games in this competition.
- The Gunners have conceded in 6 of their last 7 home matches in this cup.
Predicted Arsenal lineup (4-3-3)*
Kepa Arrizabalaga – Ben White, Piero Incapie, Christian Mosquera, Miles Lewis-Skelly – Ethan Nwaneri, Mikel Merino, Cristian Nergor – Max Dauman, Andre Harriman-Annos, Eberechi Eze.
Striker Kai Havertz, midfielder Max Dauman and defenders Ben White, Christian Mosquera and Gabriel Magalhaes will miss the match through injury.
Crystal Palace
Oliver Glasner's side have also played only two games in this season's EFL Cup. They overcame Millwall at home after a 1-1 draw (4-2 on penalties) and then sensationally beat Liverpool 3-0 away. Interestingly, in the 21st century Palace have reached the semi-finals only twice. Last season they were eliminated at the quarter-final stage by Arsenal, who won 3-2. That defeat to the Gunners is their only loss in their last six matches in this competition (4 wins and 1 draw).
- At least three goals were scored in 7 of Palace's last 8 games in this cup.
- Both teams scored in 4 of Crystal Palace's last 5 league matches.
- The team scored at least two goals in each of their four previous away matches in the EFL Cup.
Predicted Crystal Palace lineup (3-4-3)*
Walter Benítez – Jaidy Canvot, Maxence Lacroix, Marc Guéhi – Borna Sosa, Daniel Muñoz, Daichi Kamada, Will Hughes – Jeremie Pino, Eddie Nketiah, Ismaïla Sarr.
Midfielders Daichi Kamada, Caleb Kropa and Cheick Doukouré, and defenders Chadi Riad and Daniel Muñoz will miss the match through injury. Midfielder Ismaïla Sarr has been called up to his national team.
Arsenal v Crystal Palace: Match Prediction
This will be Glasner's side's third game in six days, although he rotated his squad in the Conference League on Thursday and is unlikely to select many of those players for this tie. Both London clubs therefore head into the fixture in a similar physical state and will be targeting Premier League points again at the weekend. I believe Crystal Palace can avoid defeat in normal time; if they do lose, it is likely to be by a narrow margin.
Arsenal have recorded wins by two or more goals in only 4 of their last 12 matches in this competition. By contrast, Crystal Palace have avoided losing by such a margin in 15 of their last 16 EFL Cup ties. Across their previous 35 competitive matches Glasner's side have lost by two or more goals only once. Additionally, the Gunners have not beaten their London rivals convincingly at the Emirates in 7 of the last 9 head-to-head meetings in the Premier League and EFL Cup.
My prediction – Crystal Palace (+1)
* For each team the starting XI shown is from their previous match in this competition.
