Arsenal vs Crystal Palace: Can the Gunners Keep Their Winning Streak Alive in This London Clash?
Hey folks, buckle up for another thrilling Premier League weekend! We've got a classic London derby on tap this Sunday afternoon, with high-flying Arsenal welcoming a bit-of-a-slump Crystal Palace to the Emirates. Arsenal's sitting pretty at the top of the table, and they're gunning for an incredible seventh win in a row across all comps. Meanwhile, Palace under Oliver Glasner hasn't tasted victory in their last three outings, whether it's league or Europe. It's shaping up to be a mismatch on paper, but you never know with these derbies—Palace has pulled off some surprises before.
Arsenal's Set-Piece Magic and Defensive Steel
You know, one thing that's really stood out for Arsenal this season is their absolute dominance from set-pieces. Ever since Nicolas Jover joined Mikel Arteta's coaching staff back in 2021, they've turned dead balls into gold. Just last week, they edged out Fulham 1-0 thanks to a corner routine, with Leandro Trossard tapping it in from close range. That made it their 10th set-piece goal in only eight Premier League games—yep, that's the quickest any team's hit double digits in the league's history. Critics keep saying it'll dry up, but nah, it's still firing on all cylinders.
This has helped propel them ahead of a stumbling Liverpool, with Manchester City now their closest chasers, just three points back. Oh, and get this: If Arsenal can keep Palace from getting a single shot on target, they'll match a rare record set by Arteta's old side, Man City, back in 2014—three straight league games without facing a shot on goal. Their defense is like a fortress right now.
But it's not all set-pieces; they've got flair in open play too. Midweek in the Champions League, they demolished Atletico Madrid 4-0, even if David Raya had to make one save. It was a masterclass, showing they're not one-trick ponies.
Crystal Palace's Rollercoaster Ride and Recent Struggles
On the flip side, Palace is having a tough October. They scraped a 3-3 draw against Bournemouth in their last league game, thanks to a dramatic 97th-minute penalty from Jean-Philippe Mateta. The guy's on fire—he bagged a hat-trick in that match (well, technically two goals plus the pen, but it counts as his second Premier League hat-trick, joining legends like Nicolas Anelka and Thierry Henry as French players who've done it multiple times). He could've had four, but fluffed a late chance. Still, eight of his last nine league goals have come in London games, so watch out for him at the Emirates.
Midweek was rougher: A shock 1-0 loss to AEK Larnaca in the Conference League, courtesy of a howler from Jaydee Canvot (that backpass gift-wrapped the winner). They've gone from an unbeaten streak of 19 games to losing two of their last three, leaking six goals in that run and only keeping one clean sheet in seven. Sitting eighth in the table, they're not in crisis mode yet, but their form against Arsenal is worrying—five losses in the last six league meetings. That said, last season they nicked a 2-2 draw at the Emirates with a late Mateta strike, and as FA Cup holders, they've got that cup magic vibe.
Adding a bit more context here: Palace has historically struggled at the Emirates, winning just once in their last 10 visits across all competitions. But with players like Eberechi Eze pulling strings in midfield and Mateta's scoring prowess, they could exploit any Arsenal slip-ups, especially if the Gunners' injury woes bite.
Head-to-Head and Key Battles
Historically, Arsenal holds the edge in this fixture, with 33 wins to Palace's 6 in 55 meetings overall. Recent games have been goal-fests too— the last four league clashes averaged over three goals each. Key to watch: Arsenal's Bukayo Saka vs Palace's Tyrick Mitchell on the wing could be electric, and if Mateta gets service, he might test Arsenal's backline. Also, fun fact: Arsenal has scored in every home league game against Palace since 2014, so expect fireworks.
Form Guides
Arsenal's been unstoppable lately:
- Premier League: L W D W W W
- All comps: W W W W W W (that's six on the bounce—make it seven?)
Palace? A mixed bag:
- Premier League: W D W W L D
- All comps: W D W L D L
Team News and Lineup Predictions
Injuries are hitting Arsenal hard after that Atletico win. Gabriel Magalhaes picked up a thigh knock and is doubtful—expect Cristhian Mosquera to slot in alongside William Saliba.Big misses include Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard, and Noni Madueke, but they should be back post-international break. Gabriel Jesus, who terrorized Palace last year with a brace in one game, is still rehabbing an ACL tear—aiming for a late 2025 or early 2026 return. Arteta's likely to stick with most of the midweek XI, but Riccardo Calafiori should come in at left-back for Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Eddie Nketiah, the ex-Gunner, came on midweek but probably won't start over Mateta up top. Glasner might tweak to a more defensive setup to counter Arsenal's attack.
All in all, this feels like Arsenal's game to lose, but Palace's counter-attacking threat could make it spicy. What do you think—will the Gunners extend their streak, or does Palace spring an upset? Drop your predictions in the comments!