Will Arsenal continue their great Derby record?

Only two teams remain on the six-point maximum in the English Premier League after two rounds. On Monday night, a third team could join them at the conclusion of the second round.

In the London city derby at Selhurst Park, two teams will meet who celebrated a victory on the first matchday. Despite the home advantage, the bookmakers clearly favor betting on the runners-up in the match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal.

Veteran coach Roy Hodgson’s Eagles celebrated a narrow 1-0 win at promoted Sheffield United last week, while Arsenal edged out Nottingham Forest 2-1 in front of their home crowd. While the Gunners’ success was to be expected, that of the Eagles was more surprising. Although it was against a promoted team, Crystal Palace’s squad has lost some of its quality compared to last year. That’s another reason why there’s a lot to be said for predicting an away win between Crystal Palace and Arsenal on Monday night.

The final match of the second round in the motherland of soccer will kick off at Selhurst Park on Monday night at 9 p.m.

Crystal Palace – statistics & current form

Actually, Roy Hodgson has already ended his career as a head coach several times, but the passion i[st too great for him to actually make that move. Despite his 76 years, he still feels fit enough to handle the rigors of being a professional coach. In times when not only the players are getting younger and younger, but also the coaches, Roy Hodgson is the antithesis of this development. There will be no ultra-modern pressing soccer under him, but since his return to Crystal Palace the style has certainly changed.

So attacking like never before

Hodgson was already with the Eagles between 2017 and 2021, and despite manageable financial resources, he was always able to fix the club’s class preservation. The philosophy was simple – the defense is stable and in the forward play, especially standards should provide a scoring threat. Traditionally, the Eagles did not score many goals and the neutral fan did not like this style.

All the more surprising is the fact that the 1-0 win last weekend was a club record. After the departures of club icon Wilfried Zaha and the absence of assist king Michael Olise, Crystal Palace appeared more attacking than ever before. They ended up with 24 shot attempts – the highest since OPTA data was recorded in 2003-04. The much more attacking approach was not an isolated incident, as since Hodgson’s return in March this year, the club pushed the average number of shots from 10.5 (under Patrick Vieira) to 15.7.

So far in his second Palace tenure, Hodgson has not lost a league home game (three wins, two draws) and could win the first league home game for only the second time in PL history with a derby win against the runners-up. In 14 attempts, this was only achieved in 2020/21 against Southampton. However, there are no serious signs that Monday’s Crystal Palace vs Arsenal odds of just under 6.00 will be successful.

Predicted lineup of Crystal Palace:

Crystal Palace (Expected lineup) 4-2-3-1

Arsenal – statistics & current form

At the start of the season, the Gunners celebrated a 2-1 home win against Nottingham Forest, but still there were not only smiling faces. Once again, Arteta’s team dropped down a gear too early and had to shake for victory in the final stages, but managed to hold on to the narrow lead. The debut of new summer signing Jurrien Timber was also a bitter blow. The Dutch international had to be substituted in minute 50 and as it turned out in the meantime, the 40 million Euro newcomer tore his cruciate ligament and will be missing for a long time.

Derby specialist Arsenal London

The Timber signing should add depth to the squad, as last year’s missed league title was due in particular to the fact that Arteta was able to rotate much less compared to the Citizens. Guardiola’s eleven was always able to bring in adequate quality from the bench without any problems, Arsenal was not. Arsenal felt the strain of the intense season in the finish and ran out of steam in the finish.

However, their derby record last season was absolutely outstanding. Arsenal won ten of the twelve London city duels, drawing the remaining two games. Never before has a London team won more derbies in a single season. However, the record of games without a derby defeat is still a little while coming, because between 2001 and 2005 Arsenal did not lose to a team from London 35 times in a row.

The convincing derby statistics are as much an argument for the away win as the Gunners record away from home. 39 points were collected last year, which meant first place in the away table. In addition, the defense around Aaron Ramsdale was able to keep his box clean ten times. The probability of Crystal Palace vs. Arsenal being successful is very high for the visitors.

Predicted Arsenal lineup:

FC Arsenal (Expected lineup) 4-3-3

Crystal Palace – Arsenal Direct comparison / H2H balance

The Gunners are not necessarily a favorite opponent for the team from the London district of Selhurst. Crystal Palace have only won one of their last eight Premier League derbies against their city rivals – in April 2022 in front of their home crowd. In the past season 2022/23, the Arteta eleven was a number too big for Crystal Palace anyway, the vice-champion won with 2-0 and 4-1. Thus, both times between Crystal Palace and Arsenal the prediction on the handicap victory was correct, on Monday odds of over 2.50 are offered for this bet.

Crystal Palace – Arsenal tip

The initial situation seems more than just clear and the guests are considered to be house-high favorites. This is proven by a look at the betting odds for Crystal Palace vs Arsenal. However, if you want to look for the hair in the soup, you will find it. Arsenal have lost their last four away games on Monday nights in the Premier League. The last Monday win away from home came under interim coach Freddie Ljungberg in December 2019 against West Ham.

In addition to our recommended bets on the visitors – both the regular away win and the handicap success – we see value especially in betting on many goals. Historically, Crystal Palace is an “under team” in many minds, as the style has been characterized as ultra-defensive for many years.

Recently, however, the Eagles act much more offensively and come to many completions. The offensive quality of Arteta’s eleven is undisputed anyway and accordingly three goals would not be a surprise. With six units, the tip on Crystal Palace vs. Arsenal is therefore recommended on the over 2.5