Arsenal vs. Palace Odds
| Arsenal Odds | -155 |
| Crystal Palace Odds | +450 |
| Draw | +295 |
| Over/Under | 2.5 (-110 / -105) |
| Day | Time | Monday | 3 p.m. ET |
| How To Watch | Peacock Premium |
| Odds via DraftKings. Get up-to-the-minute Premier League odds here. | |
Things could get pretty intense at Emirates Stadium on Monday when surging Arsenal hosts Crystal Palace in a crucial Premier League showdown.
This latest London derby will double as Patrick Vieira's first appearance facing his former club in his new managerial role. Vieira and the Eagles, who are winless in their last three league contests, haven't been as bad as it sounds, though, and could cause some issues for the hosts.
As for the Gunners, they have been in stellar form after getting off to a rough start to their campaign. Manager Mikel Arteta, who was on the hot seat right out of the gate, has seen his spot on the Arsenal sideline get much chillier because his lads have gone unbeaten in four consecutive league games.
Oddsmakers have made the Gunners big favorites ahead of this clash, with their current number sitting at -155 on the moneyline. In contrast, the Eagles are +450 to win outright, with draw line lingering around the +300 number.
Let's see where the betting value sits in this game, and what could be on deck.
Arsenal Reverses Fortune in Recent Stretch
Boy, how things have changed for Arteta and the Gunners.
After dropping their first three league matches via shutout, highlighted (well, actually low-lighted) by a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of mighty Manchester City, Arsenal turned things around to say the least. They've gone unbeaten in their last five contests, which includes four victories, across all competitions.
The Gunners, who are led by standout Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang, have scored eight goals during that recent span of success. They've continue to do their damage inside the penalty area, but the extreme consistency they're finishing opportunities inside 18 yards is eye-opening to say the least.
Arsenal have scored just one goal from outside the box in open play in their last 48 Premier League matches.
— Orbinho (@Orbinho) October 16, 2021
Yet, at the end of the day, it doesn't really matter how you're finding the back of the net. Goals are goals at any level, and Arsenal's complete 180-degree turn has been due to its attack going forward. There is an interesting stat line that could potentially cause some minor concern for Arteta's group, though.
The Gunners have created a paltry 1.2 expected goals or fewer in three of their last four league matches, according to FBref.com. In fact, they've only generated a combined 2.5 xG, but have managed to score four goals en route to two victories and a draw in those fixtures.
Homecoming Could Be Rough for Crystal Palace
The only time you will likely hear the home supporters cheering for anyone associated with the Eagles will be when Vieira enters the Emirates ahead of his first match as a manger against his former team.
To say the Frenchman is a living legend with the historic club is an understatement. His counterpart, Arteta, roamed the midfield with Vieira during their days with the Gunners and had nothing but kind words for his former teammate ahead of the showdown.
"He is an Arsenal legend and I hope he gets the reception he deserves for what he did for the club, not only as a player but also what he transmitted as a person."
Mikel Arteta's been discussing Patrick Vieira ahead of our match against @CPFC 👇
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 14, 2021
However, all pleasantries aside, Vieira and the Eagles have a task at hand. And to say they're in relatively decent form at the moment wouldn't be incorrect. Crystal Palace is unbeaten in four of its last five league contests, highlighted by its convincing 3-0 shutout win against Tottenham Hotspur.
Unfortunately, that's the lone victory the Eagles have experienced during that stretch. Crystal Palace settled for back-to-back stalemates with Brighton & Hove Albion (1-1) and Leicester City (2-2) prior to the break. The positive the Eagles could take away from the draw against the Foxes is that they rallied from a two-goal deficit in the second half to earn the coveted point.
Betting Analysis & Picks
When it comes to form, Arsenal has the advantage with the overall results and numbers entering this confrontation. The Gunners are the better club, but I have no desire playing them on their current juiced moneyline price.
Instead, I've turned my attention to a pair of totals that offer more value. These wagers give us better opportunities to cash tickets, especially because I anticipate the offenses taking center stage under the Emirates lights.
That said, I'm backing the total going over 2.5 goals at -110 odds via DraftKings as my top selection. There have been at least three goals in Crystal Palace's last three matches away from Selhurst Park, which has me confident in this angle.
I'm also going to back Arsenal to clear 1.5 goals at -140 odds as another featured pick. Defensively, the Eagles have been terrible in road affairs, yielding at least two goals in their last five league games. That doesn't bode well for them, considering how well the Gunners' offense has been clicking during its recent stretch of solid efforts.
Pick: Total Over 2.5 Goals (-110) | Arsenal Team Total Over 1.5 Goals (-140)
