It’s Arsenal vs Crystal Palace in the Premier League tomorrow, and Chris Sutton and Paul Merson have both predicted the result of the game at the Emirates.
The Eagles sacked Patrick Vieira yesterday and they’ll come to North London with a sense of unpredictability. We don’t know what system they will employ, and that makes it considerably more difficult for us.
Arsenal, however, have to win the game, and Merson and Sutton both think that will happen.
Why Pele Is Overrated.
BBC pundit Chris Sutton and Paul Merson predict Arsenal vs Crystal Palace
Arsenal crashed out of the Europa League on Thursday following a defeat to Sporting Lisbon on penalties.
It was heartbreaking to go out as we could’ve easily won the competition had we managed to go through Ruben Amorim’s side in the round of 16.
However, this could yet prove to be a blessing in disguise as Arsenal now have a much easier run in to the end of the season than Manchester City, who have to play Bayern Munich twice in the coming weeks.
It’s time for us to take advantage and Crystal Palace are our first test tomorrow. Sutton and Merson both think we’ll win the game.
Sutton wrote on BBC Sport: “On paper, you might look at this and think a straightforward home win but it rarely works out that way when Arsenal play Palace. The Eagles have not been beaten at the Emirates on any of their past four visits, drawing three and winning one.
“The question here is whether Palace can hold out and they showed against Manchester City last weekend that they are not easy to break down – it took until the 78th minute for City to score with a penalty. So, it is not going to be easy for the Gunners – they will have to watch out for counter-attacks too – but I am still expecting them to win.”
Sutton’s prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Crystal Palace
Merson wrote on Sportskeeda: “I’m going for an Arsenal win all day long – pick a scoreline!
“I’ve always said this and I firmly believe it matters who plays first in terms of the title race. Manchester City are in the FA Cup, so if Arsenal manage to win this week, they can go eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table.”
Merson’s prediction: Arsenal 3-0 Crystal Palace
Predicted Arsenal XI vs Crystal Palace
Arsenal suffered a couple of injury blows against Sporting on Thursday. Takehiro Tomiyasu and William Saliba both hobbled off the pitch early in the game, and that is not ideal at all.
Tomiyasu is almost certain to miss the game against Crystal Palace tomorrow, but Saliba has a chance to make it. So, let’s be hopeful and predict that he will be fit enough to start.
The rest of our side should be straightforward to predict.
Predicted Arsenal XI vs Crystal Palace: Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Partey, Xhaka, Martinelli, Odegaard, Saka, Jesus
