One of the EFL Cup quarter-final sees Arsenal host Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday. Both sides enter the fixture with varying form and ambitions, with Arsenal aiming to end their silverware drought in this competition and Palace seeking a historic semi-final berth.
Arsenal Recent Form
Arsenal’s recent form has shown inconsistency. Although they secured a commanding 3-0 win over Preston North End in the previous round, they struggled to break down Everton in a recent 0-0 Premier League draw.
Mikel Arteta’s men are looking to bounce back and regain momentum in front of their home crowd.
Injury and Team News
Mikel Arteta faces a few injury concerns. Declan Rice may sit out due to a slight niggle, while Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu remain sidelined with knee injuries.
Riccardo Calafiori and Oleksandr Zinchenko are also doubts. Rotation is expected, with fringe players such as Jorginho, Raheem Sterling, and Gabriel Jesus likely to feature.
Last Arsenal Lineup
Here is how Arsenal lined up in their last match:
Crystal Palace Recent Form
Crystal Palace are in high spirits after a 3-1 triumph over rivals Brighton. That win extended their unbeaten run to five games in all competitions.
The Eagles have displayed resilience and attacking flair recently, a much-needed improvement after a shaky start to the season.
Injury and Team News
For Crystal Palace, Daniel Munoz is available despite his recent suspension in the Premier League. Joel Ward and Adam Wharton could return, but Chadi Riad and Matheus Franca remain unavailable.
Rob Holding is still excluded due to disciplinary reasons, but Matt Turner and Eddie Nketiah may get starts against their former club.
Last Crystal Palace Lineup
Here is how Crystal Palace lined up in their last match:
Arsenal Player To Watch
Gabriel Jesus - The Brazilian forward has the creativity and movement to unlock defences. He’ll be eager to make an impact and help Arsenal progress to the semi-finals.
Crystal Palace Player To Watch
Ismaila Sarr - Sarr’s pace and direct play have been key for Palace. His performance against Brighton demonstrated his ability to trouble defences, and he’ll be pivotal in Palace’s counter-attacks.
Prediction
Despite their recent struggles, Arsenal’s quality should edge them through in a closely contested encounter.
Our Prediction: Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
Betting Tips
Tip 1
Under 2.5 Goals – Both sides are likely to adopt a cautious approach, making a low-scoring game probable.
Tip 2
Gabriel Jesus to Score Anytime – With rotation likely, Jesus is expected to lead the line and find the net.
Tip 3
Arsenal to Win by 1 Goal – Arsenal’s home advantage and squad depth may give them the narrow victory.
