Arsenal return to fortress Emirates with a favourable fixture to boost their top four hopes - and Paul Higham expects them to do just that.
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1pt Arsenal to win & both teams to score at 15/8
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Arsenal v Crystal Palace (1600 BST)
A return to the Emirates offers up a great chance for Arsenal to boost their top four hopes against a Palace side who now feel they're safe from the threat of relegation.
Unai Emery's side have only lost once in the league on home soil this season and only Liverpool and Man City have accrued more home points so they'll fancy another three points here despite the Eagles being a better team away from home this campaign.
Palace will still offer a threat in the pace and trickery of Zaha and Townsend, especially against a Gunners defence that is far from impressive even at home, but going forward they play some wonderful stuff at the Emirates and Palace would need to put in a big shift to keep them out.
Of course, Thursday's trip to Naples in the Europa League may have an effect on Arsenal's legs, but at home there's enough to like about their home form to see them winning this one.
Betting guide
Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Crystal Palace (Sky Bet odds: 15/2)
It may be tough, especially early on as Arsenal try and get Thursday's trip to Italy out of their legs, but they need this more for their top four hopes and that, along with their superb attacking options, means they can just about get the job done.
Best bet: Arsenal to win & both teams to score at 15/8
Arsenal have won ten in a row at the Emirates, but Palace are the seventh best away team in the league and have scored in nine of their last ten road trips so there's no reason why they can't pierce this leaky rearguard.
Goals: Aubameyang first goalscorer at 3/1
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored more Premier League London derby goals than any other player this season with 6, and he'll bag his seventh here as he opens the scoring for the hosts.
RequestABet: Arsenal win, over 2.5 goals, both teams to score, Aubameyang anytime
Arsenal v Crystal Palace - Opta stats
- Arsenal have lost just two of their 22 home meetings with Crystal Palace in all competitions (W16 D4), 0-2 in a League Cup game in November 1970 and 1-2 in the Premier League in October 1994.
- Following their 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park earlier this season, Crystal Palace are looking to avoid defeat in both league meetings with Arsenal in a campaign for the first time since 1979-80.
- Arsenal have won each of their last six London derbies at home in the Premier League, their best such run in the competition since 11 straight victories between December 2001 and November 2003.
- Arsenal have won their last 10 home Premier League games – they’ve never won 11 in a row at home within a single top-flight season before.
- Arsenal have won 22 more points at home (44) than they have away (22) in the Premier League this season, the biggest such difference in the competition. However, Crystal Palace have won the highest ratio of their Premier League points this season away from home (59% - 23/39).
- Crystal Palace have alternated between victory and defeat in their last eight Premier League games, losing against Man City last time out. Away from home, the Eagles have won three of their last four in the Premier League (L1).
- No team has played more English league games on Easter Sunday than Arsenal (7), while this will be Crystal Palace’s first ever league game on that day.
- Crystal Palace midfielder Luka Milivojevic netted two penalties in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal at Selhurst Park earlier this season. Only three players in Premier League history have netted three penalty goals against an opponent in a single campaign (Graham Alexander v Hull in 2009-10, Robbie Fowler v Sheffield United in 2006-07 and Peter Beardsley v Wimbledon in 1993-94).
- Alexandre Lacazette has scored nine home league goals for Arsenal this season. If he scores here, it will be just the second Premier League season to see two Arsenal players net 10+ home goals (Aubameyang has 11) after the 2004-05 campaign (Thierry Henry 21 and Robert Pires 10).
- Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored more Premier League London derby goals than any other player this season (6).
