Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the English Premier League match.
Saturday's encounter marks the second meeting between these clubs this week, with the League Cup draw and regular league schedule aligning. On Wednesday, Arsenal emerged victorious at the Emirates Stadium (3:2). But what will unfold at Selhurst Park?
Arsenal
Arsenal fielded a somewhat makeshift lineup for that match. Jurrien Timber was moved to an unfamiliar central defensive role, while Kieran Tierney featured on the left due to injuries to Riccardo Calafiori and Oleksandr Zinchenko. Those were the first 69 minutes of the season for the Scotsman, who had been sidelined for months with a hamstring issue. He didn't finish the game, leading to initial fears of a recurrence, but Mikel Arteta reassured that it was merely a cramp. These adjustments impacted the strength of Arsenal's defence, as they conceded two goals, including one from a counterattack.
Crystal Palace
However, one substitution made a significant impact. Gabriel Jesus, who last started against AS Monaco, scored a hat-trick in just 27 minutes. This match marked the third consecutive and fifth in eight occasions for Crystal Palace where at least three goals were scored. The same tally applies to their opponents.
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal Prediction
We predict another high-scoring match on Saturday. Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard, who were not heavily involved midweek, will likely start. They need no more than 45 minutes to make a difference: Ødegaard provided two assists off the bench, while Saka added one.
