Best bets, free tips & EPL specials – Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace

NUMBERS don’t lie and if Arsenal’s stats are anything to go by the the club has become a sad joke for its frustrated fan base.

The Gunners have fallen head first in their title charge, a staggering 23 points adrift of League leaders Manchester City. What’s more, it looks for all the world as though Arsene Wenger’s charges won’t make it back into the EPL top four.

Out of the Champion’s League, the FA Cup and with no surety of a place in the final of the EFL Cup, it would be a massive understatement to conclude that the club has regressed sharply. The frustration at the Emirates is set to hit new heights with the close of the winter transfer window.

Arsenal is on the verge of losing Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil; two players who form the spine of the team.
Although their contracts keep them at the Emirates until the English summer, the dynamic duo has made it apparent they won’t be staying at the club any longer than they pledged to.

The future of Alexis is seemingly destined somewhere in Manchester, while Ozil – who is available for selection having recovered from a knee injury – may just be there to make up the numbers as he awaits his contract expiry date.

Arsenal will still be reeling from the shock defeat to Bournemouth last weekend, one that left them rooted in sixth with 39 points – eight points behind Chelsea, which dropped to occupy the last Champion’s League slot.

As such, the Gunners will have to tread carefully against Crystal Palace, which is evidently in a hot stretch of form. The appointment of veteran manager Roy Hodgson has paid lucrative dividends, as the Eagles have braved the murky relegation waters and made it back into the safety.

In fact, Palace have only lost once in their last 12 Premier League games, with huge results against Burnley, Southampton and Manchester City clawing them back to a comfortable five point cushion above the drop zone.

Laurent Koscielny and Nacho Monreal look set to start, but Arsene Wenger will be without the enforced absence of Theo Walcott and Francis Coquelin – who have signed for Everton and Valencia respectively – while Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla remain sidelined with injuries.

Palace have been hit by injuries with the likes of Andros Townsend, Connor Wickham, Mamadou Sakho, Scott Dann, Jason Puncheon, Jeffrey Schlupp and Ruben Loftus-Cheek all ruled out of the tie.

Crystal Palace vs. Arsenal match odds and predictions

Arsenal is without a win in their last five games in all competitions while Crystal Palace have won two of their last five. Nonetheless, the Gunners are undefeated in 17 of their last 18 home matches, their only plunge coming against Manchester United.

With a decent run of eight wins from their last ten matches against Crystal Palace in all competitions, Arsenal are favorites heading into the encounter.

Prediction: Arsenal to win 2-1 +700 at WilliamHill.com.au

Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace recent results

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