- Palace searching for rare win over Arsenal
- Prioirity and focus on Wednesday’s Conference League final
- Arsenal’s title win relieves pressure
Crystal Palace welcome newly crowned Premier League Champions Arsenal to Selhurst Park today. In what will be Oliver Glasner’s final game at Selhurst as the manager of Palace, fans of the South London club will be hoping to see a good performance and result.
Ultimately, the outcome of this particular game will hold little relevance to Palace fans should they go on to succeed in Leipzig on Wednesday.
Both sides have nothing to play for now, which is a stark change from how this fixture was being billed over the last few weeks. The assumption that Manchester City would push Mikel Arteta’s side all the way to the final day fell flat when City drew 1-1 against Bournemouth.
That result crowned Arsenal Champions, and now this game serves as little more than a send off for Glasner and the side ahead of Leipzig, and for Arsenal, the day they get to lift the Premier League trophy.
READ: Latest Crystal Palace news and updates
FOLLOW: Read Crystal Palace on Facebook, Instagram and X
Arsenal flawless in recent meetings
Over the last ten meetings between Palace and Arsenal, the Gunners have won eight, with Palace winning once and one game ending level.
Palace’s last win against Arsenal came in April 2022, when Patrick Vieira’s side won 3-0.
Since then, the results make for difficult reading for Palace fans, who have had little to cheer about regarding this fixture.
Two or more goals have been scored in ten of the last twelve meetings, and this trend will likely continue, as a free-flowing, open game of football is poised to take place.
Outside of this specific fixture, Arsenal’s league form has been worthy of their first Premier League title in 22 years.
Arteta’s side have lost just five league games, and conceded only 26 goals, the least of every side in the division this campaign.
Last time out
In the most recent meeting between the two sides, Palace took Arsenal to penalties at the Emirates in the quarter final of the League Cup. An 8-7 defeat on spot kicks prevented Palace from progressing to the semi finals.
On that day, Palace defended sternly against a free-flowing Arsenal side who created almost four expected goals, with 25 total shots.
Despite the flurry of chances, it was a Palace player who was required to give Arsenal the lead. Maxence Lacroix converted into his own net on 80 minutes, and looked to have lost Palace the game.
However in the fifth minute of added time, Marc Guéhi equalised giving Palace a slim chance to progress.
The game may be remembered for Walter Benitez’s heroics during the ninety minutes, only for him to dive the wrong way for every single Arsenal spot kick.
With little pressure on the line for either side, there is the potential of an exciting game to close the season.
