Crystal Palace vs Arsenal Prediction, Betting Tips & Preview

Preview

Joel Amorim Aug 14, 2015 @ 01:38 am

Next Sunday, 16th of August 2015, the FA Community Shield holders, Arsenal, will perform a short travel to South Norwood, London, to measure forces with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park for round 2 of the English Premier League.

Arsenal were stunned at the Emirates Stadium by a mighty and superbly organized West Ham last weekend, thus not being able to start the new EPL season off on right foot. The Gunners had an apparent control of the match with plenty more ball possession percentage and several more chances to score, but in the end, it was West Ham who got away with the three points in their bags. An array of defensive mistakes cost Arsenal two goals last Sunday and rekindled last season’s problems at the Gunners’ back line.

Arsenal’s triumph over their rivals Chelsea at the FA Community Shield ignited some extra enthusiasm over Arsene Wenger’s team but all of a sudden everything seems to have crumbled down after another disappointing result in the opening match of the season.

The upcoming clash at Selhurst Park will probably not be an easy one and, although Arsenal’s recent record against Crystal Palace is fairly positive, they will need to be extra careful if they don’t want to suffer another major upset next Sunday.

As for Crystal Palace, the Eagles granted a very important win at Carrow Road last weekend and started the new campaign at full speed after some ups and downs throughout the pre-season matches.

Zaha, Delaney and the newcomer and former Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye scored Crystal Palace’s goals, thus frustrating an attack-driven Norwich who crashed into the organized counter-attack game from Alan Pardew’s men.

When both teams met at Selhurst Park last term, the Gunners defeated Crystal Palace by 2-1 thanks to two first-half goals from Cazorla and Giroud. In the last eleven years, the best the Eagles managed to do against Arsenal was a 1-1 draw back in 2004, but the motivation boost they got from last weekend’s win might help them overcome their all-powerful neighbours.

League Positions