Key Facts
- Crystal Palace sits in 15th place with 45 points, two points behind Leeds and two ahead of Nottingham Forest, but must prioritize European qualification.
- Arsenal has won four of its last five competitive matches and has scored in every game; Havertz, Saka, and Gyökeres represent controlled efficiency rather than spectacle.
- Palace lacks central attacking width without Eddie Nketiah and Evann Guessand, while Chris Richards’ ankle injury puts additional strain on an already vulnerable defense.
- Arsenal has scored in all five recent head-to-head matches, but Palace has found the net four times themselves; most recently, the games have been much closer.
- An away win seems plausible from a betting perspective, as Arsenal have won four of five and Palace have conceded in five consecutive matches.
- The case for over 1.5 goals in the first half is supported by the fact that Palace have conceded early in five straight matches and Arsenal have scored four times before halftime.
Arsenal’s title celebration is already making its way to Selhurst Park: The new Premier League champions are set to receive the trophy after their final league match on Sunday, while resale prices for tickets have reportedly skyrocketed. Mikel Arteta’s team secured the title because Manchester City only managed a draw at Bournemouth, but this match is more than just a celebration. It is also a test of professional focus ahead of the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain. Crystal Palace brings its own drama: Oliver Glasner is heading toward the Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano, while reports swirl about his future, and Chris Richards is dealing with ankle issues.
- Venue: Selhurst Park, London
- Date and time: May 24, 2026, 5:00 PM
- Competition: Premier League (Matchday 38)
The betting market clearly favors Arsenal, which makes sense given the situation. Winning the title is likely to sharpen Arteta’s focus rather than ease it, especially since Arsenal has won four of its last five competitive matches and scored in each of those games. Crystal Palace, on the other hand, has conceded goals in five consecutive matches and will be without Eddie Nketiah and Evann Guessand.
Crystal Palace Form & Record Check
Palace’s most recent league outing summed up the current tension quite aptly. In the 2-2 draw at Brentford, Ismaïla Sarr scored early from the spot, Adam Wharton put the team back in front after a pass from Daniel Muñoz, but Brentford equalized late. It was competitive but not solid, and Chris Richards’ ankle problem added another concern. In their last five competitive matches, Palace have recorded one win, two draws, and two losses. The win—a 2-1 victory in the Conference League semifinal against Shakhtar Donetsk—was valuable, but their league form appears more vulnerable. In each of those five games, Palace conceded a goal, and in each case, it came in the first half, making control of the match against Arsenal a real question mark.
Glasner must also balance the lineup with the final against Rayo Vallecano three days later. Eddie Nketiah and Evann Guessand are out, thinning the attack, while Caleb Kporha is unavailable in defense. Palace remains just two points behind Leeds and two ahead of Nottingham Forest, but the priority on the field is likely to be conserving energy for the club’s European ambitions.
Crystal Palace’s likely lineup is expected to be a 3-4-2-1 formation, though this is by no means a confirmed starting XI. Dean Henderson is expected to start in goal, with Jaydee Canvot (23), Maxence Lacroix (5), and Chadi Riad (34) are expected to form the back three. Adam Wharton (20) and Daichi Kamada (18) are set to dictate the tempo in midfield. Regarding injuries, the focus is primarily on Chris Richards’ ankle issue, which suggests Jaydee Canvot (23) will feature in this defensive line. With Evann Guessand and Eddie Nketiah also out, Ismaïla Sarr (7) and Yéremy Pino (10) could support Jørgen Strand Larsen (22), while Daniel Muñoz (2) and Tyrick Mitchell (3) provide width.
Arsenal Form & Record Check
Arsenal’s most recent league outing wasn’t spectacular, but it was exactly the kind of controlled victory that has defined their title run. Kai Havertz scored off an assist from Bukayo Saka in the 1-0 win over Burnley; for Arteta’s team, it was their fourth win in five competitive matches. Arsenal has scored in all five games and rarely looked rushed in the process. This run also includes a 1-0 league win at West Ham, a 3-0 league victory over Fulham, and the two-legged Champions League semifinal triumph against Atlético Madrid. Arsenal isn’t chasing spectacle. The team secures space, strikes early when possible, and then keeps the second halves calm, with David Raya, William Saliba, and Gabriel as the central figures of this composure. This aligns with Luis Enrique’s praise for Arsenal’s work off the ball. Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard, and Martín Zubimendi give Arteta control in midfield, while Viktor Gyökeres provides the anchor that has carried the team over the line. Ben White remains sidelined, and Jurriën Timber and Mikel Merino are set to return on matchday, so rotation remains a factor.
Arsenal could line up in an expected 4-3-3, with David Raya behind a back four featuring Cristhian Mosquera (3), William Saliba (2), and Piero Hincapié (5). With Jurriën Timber and Ben White sidelined due to injury, Cristhian Mosquera (3) looks like the likely replacement in defense, while Martín Zubimendi (36) and Christian Nørgaard (16) are expected to anchor the midfield. Mikel Merino is also out following foot surgery, so Eberechi Eze (10) could be called upon to inject more momentum into the game from midfield. Further up front, this prediction sees Noni Madueke (20) and Gabriel Martinelli (11) on the wings alongside Viktor Gyökeres (14), giving Mikel Arteta a direct attacking option for a possible starting lineup, though not a confirmed one.
Crystal Palace – Arsenal Head-to-Head & Stats
Arsenal has mostly had this matchup under control, though they haven’t always pulled away. In October 2025, Arsenal won 1-0 against Crystal Palace in the Premier League, and the team then narrowly prevailed in the League Cup quarterfinals in December 2025 after a 1-1 draw in a penalty shootout. Prior to that, the two teams drew 2-2 in 2025, while Arsenal won 5-1 at Selhurst Park in 2024 and 3-2 in the League Cup in 2024. The clearest pattern is Arsenal’s reliability in front of goal. Arsenal scored in all five of their most recent meetings, while Crystal Palace conceded a goal in each match. Palace still managed to score in four of those five games, so this rivalry hasn’t been entirely one-sided. Interestingly, three of the last five encounters featured at least four goals, before the two closer matches this season were significantly more tight-knit.
