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After some fantastic performances, 
the gunners seemed to have lost just a bit of a step recently in terms of form, so an encounter with the lowly newcomers Crystal Palace comes at the exact right time for Arsene Wenger`s men.
Arsenal started the season in brilliant fashion, mainly thanks to their team cohesion, manager and of course the signing of Mesut Ozil. After losing to Aston Villa in the first round of the Premier League, the gunners went on to win the next 10 games in all competitions (if we include a penalty win over West Brom in the League Cup). But Arsenal has been shaky in the last three games, drawing away with West Brom (1-1) in a game they arguably deserved to lose, than beating Norwhich at home (4-1) only to lose to Dortmund at Emirates 1-2 in Champions League. Surely Arsenal is still a team in form, but they have to be careful as a bad step at Crystal Palace could send them into a crisis. Overall the gunners are in a great spot at the moment, leading the Premier League with 2 points in front of Chelsea and Liverpool. Their attacking display is absolutely marvelous, Arsenal scoring in every single one of the 14 games played this season, every friendly in the off season and in the last few games of last season. Arsenal last went scoreless in mid-April against Everton!
Crystal Palace was widely regarded as the worst Premiership side at the start of the season and the critics were proved right. Palace lost 7 of the 8 league games played and if it wasn`t for Sunderland`s abysmal form (which Palace defeated 3-1) they would be dead last with zero points at the moment. The hosts brought in 14 players after promoting via the playoffs but the quality is just not there for them, the squad is very poor. Palace enters this match on the back of a pathetic 4-1 home defeat to Fulham. The hosts are currently under caretaker manager Keith Millen and have looked like a much more offensive team under his short reign.
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Team news & lineups
The hosts will have to do without McCarthy, Murray, Williams and Hunt. Arsenal has the usual injury list with Walcott, Sanogo, Podolski, Oxlade Chamberlain and Diaby being out. Wilshere and Flamini are doubtful.
Crystal Palace: Speroni – Ward, Mariappa, Delaney, Moxey – Dikgacoi, Campana, Jedinak – Puncheon, Chamakh, Bolasie.
Arsenal: Szczesny – Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs – Ramsey, Arteta, Flamini, Cazorla – Ozil – Giroud.
Arsenal is without a doubt the big favorite here, but I sense a little uncertainty in their playing level over the last three games and with these pathetic odds I can`t back the gunners to win, while covering the spread may be a bit of a stretch if they play like they did against West Brom in the last away game. However, the over 2.5 bet looks fantastic. Palace conceded 17 goals so far, including 7 in the last 2 games, and with Arsenal`s sensational form and quality up front, goals are to be expected. Palace can`t sit back anymore, they are already 5 points clear of safety and they have to go for it, just like they did against Liverpool and Fulham, so Arsenal should have a lot of goalscoring chances. On the other hand a more offensive Crystal Palace could also get a goal, they scored in the last 2 games (including on Anfield) and Arsenal`s defense still can not be trusted. Arsenal will keep most of the ball and put pressure on that weak Palace defense, but the hosts will be eager to get out on breaks, risking to be caught on counters themselves in the process. Offensive set pieces is where Palace could make their mark against an Arsenal side that does not defend too well in this aspect of the game. Expect Chamakh to try and prove a point after not being trusted at Arsenal.
This bet seems perfect except for a weak point, a 0-2 scoreline (can`t just once a bet be perfect?). However, if Arsenal does manage to play at a high level they will surely not stop at 2 goals, and like I said earlier they also have a very good chance of conceding at least once, so overall over 2,5 seems like a really solid and safe bet. My pick is Crystal Palace – Arsenal 1-3 and I`m going with maximum stakes on 3 or more goals.
Pick: over 2,5 goals
Odds: 1.65 @ Sbobet
Stake: 10
Possible profit: 6.50
Event date: 26 October
Editor Facts
- Rostick is 3 for 4 in Premier League in October
