Arsenal vs Crystal Palace Odds & Prediction – EPL Matchday 8

• Arsenal and Crystal Palace matchup on EPL matchday 8
• Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira faces his former club at Emirates Stadium on Monday, October, 18th
• Read below for the latest odds, season statistics and betting preview

Just three points separate Arsenal and Crystal Palace in the Premier League table ahead of their matchday 8 duel. The Gunners welcome Patrick Vieira’s Eagles to Emirates Stadium on Monday, October, 18th. Arsenal is favored in pre-match betting, sitting at -155 on the moneyline. With 10 points from their last four league matches, Mikel Arteta’s side are riding good form into this fixture after a rough start to the campaign.

As teams below them continue to drop points, Palace have a chance to pull away into mid-table. Watford, Leeds, Burnley and Norwich combined for just one point in matchday 8.

This is a fixture with good memories for Palace – they have picked up seven points from their last three trips to the Emirates.

Arsenal vs Crystal Palace Odds

Odds as of Oct 17 at DraftKings.

Pace Galore

Both of these teams rank in the bottom half in completed passes into the final third. The same goes for progressive passes. Schedule contributes to early season statistics like this, but it also indicates the direct nature of their attacks when they’re at their best.

Patrick Vieira against Arsenal… this is going to be strange 👀 pic.twitter.com/Y6znpzi0cv

— GOAL South Africa (@GOALcomSA) October 16, 2021

Arsenal at their most effective have quickly transitioned going forward with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang stretching defenses. Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka have been threatening outlets.

Even without the entertaining Eberechi Eze, Crystal Palace’s attacking play is often similar. Wilfried Zaha is the main threat, of course, but Odsonne Edouard is also a real nuisance for opposing defenses.

20 – Bukayo Saka (20y 34d) is the youngest player to score in consecutive appearances for the England men's team since Wayne Rooney in 2004 (18y 241d), while he is the youngest ever @Arsenal player to net in consecutive games for the Three Lions. Star. pic.twitter.com/dsk3GUDds0

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 9, 2021

Neither of these sides have racked up high numbers of carries this season despite their personnel. At their best, they let the ball do the work and can stretch opposing defenses.

Open Match

This game should be played at a high pace throughout. Palace are fifth in attacking third pressures this season, and Arsenal also sit in the top half. Lots of turnovers can be expected as they look to play through the press, and it will be challenging for either midfield to take control of the game.

Arteta on the latest injury news after the international break:

"No bad news, at the moment everybody seems to be OK."

He adds that Xhaka is "progressing well, but we know it's a long-term injury."

— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) October 14, 2021

Granit Xhaka’s absence is a key factor here, too. Xhaka can be a good attacking springboard to spread the play to Saka, Martin Odegaard and Smith Rowe.

It has the makings of an entertaining game for the neutral. Palace have only won one league match so far in 2021-22, but goals have been flying in with a couple of 2-2 draws and a 3-0 win against Spurs (which was followed by a 3-0 defeat to Liverpool).

Despite Arsenal’s improvement of late, there are still questions about their defense. Both teams to score is a good bet at -115.

Arsenal vs Crystal Palace Premier League Statistics

Arsenal Should Win

The international break can derail teams. It came at the worst time for the Gunners, who had found some form over the last few weeks. Their performances since a dire start to the season will encourage bettors to back the hosts here, though.

🏆 @PremierLeague MOTM
🏆 @BarclaysFAWSL MOTM

Congratulations, @M8Arteta and @Eidevall 👏 pic.twitter.com/TycJ8gEAc1

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 14, 2021

Palace are no pushover, and have performed far better than their one win from seven matches suggests. Vieira’s side play in a manner which can catch out supposedly superior opponents, just as Spurs discovered at Selhurst Park earlier in the campaign. There’s value backing Palace to score at least once at -165.

Despite Arsenal playing out a nil-nil with Brighton before the break, this game should have goals in it. Over 2.5 is a solid bet straight up, but it’s worth improving those odds by parlaying with an Arsenal win.

Pick: Arsenal to win and over 2.5 total goals (+145)