Prediction: Arsenal vs Crystal Palace

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 2/5

Bookmaker: BetUS

With Liverpool players and ers holding their breath, Arsenal have a chance to briefly extend the Premier League title ‘battle’ by defeating Crystal Palace in Wednesday’s London derby at the Emirates.

The Gunners delayed the Reds’ celebrations by putting four past Ipswich Town over the Easter weekend, while the Eagles and Bournemouth settled for a goalless draw after yet another round of officiating controversy.

Arsenal

Showing no signs of a Champions League hangover after their heroics in Madrid, Arsenal ensured Liverpool would not be celebrating a title win at Leicester later that day, dominating and eventually dispatching relegation-bound Ipswich Town at Portman Road.

Leandro Trossard bagged a brace, Gabriel Martinelli netted his 50th Arsenal goal, and Ethan Nwaneri saw a deflected strike round off an almost flawless day for the visitors, whose task was made easier by Leif Davis’s straight red for a reckless tackle from behind on Bukayo Saka.

The sight of Saka being jeered by the home crowd and later forced off before the hour mark were minor blemishes in Mikel Arteta’s notebook, but it was largely a routine outing for the Gunners, even if they may have only postponed what has seemed inevitable for months.

Still trailing Liverpool by 13 points in the league, Arsenal will mathematically surrender the title should they lose on Wednesday, though few fans are losing sleep over what’s long appeared to be a lost cause; European glory is now the priority.

Before hosting Paris Saint-Germain in next week’s highly anticipated semi-final first leg, the Gunners will look to stretch their unbeaten run across all competitions to 12 games, facing opponents who were left feeling wronged by decisions over the weekend.

Team News

Saka obviously required treatment after Davis’s red card tackle on Sunday, and while Arteta offered a reassuring post-match update, it would be wise to consider Nwaneri for another start in midweek.

Myles Lewis-Skelly, another Hale End product, is also in contention to return to the lineup, along with Thomas Partey and Jurrien Timber, as Arteta prepares a team resembling the one set to face PSG.

Jorginho (chest), Kai Havertz (hamstring), Gabriel Jesus (knee), Gabriel Magalhaes (hamstring), and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) remain sidelined, though Riccardo Calafiori may recover from his knee issue in time for next week’s first leg.

Crystal Palace

Selhurst Park has turned into red card territory this April following a wild win over Brighton and Hove Albion that saw three dismissals, another trio could have easily seen red in Palace’s clash with Bournemouth.

Ultimately, only Chris Richards received his marching orders for two bookable offences, while Bournemouth pair Alex Scott and Tyler Adams both avoided second yellows, infuriating the home fans as Palace’s 10 men held firm for a point.

There was little for Oliver Glasner to appreciate in Sam Barrott’s officiating, but much to ire in his side’s resilience after being thrashed in back-to-back away games, conceding 10 goals to Manchester City and Newcastle United.

With Premier League safety already assured, Palace can cruise toward the season’s end and now shift focus to their intriguing FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa, though their recent derby form also stands out, having won three London matchups so far this year.

Palace have never won four London derbies in a single Premier League campaign, and having already lost twice to Arsenal in the EFL Cup and league – both within days of each other – that record may stay intact for now.

Team News

Richards’s sending-off means he will sit out Wednesday’s game at the Emirates, leaving Glasner short of natural centre-backs for the trip to North London.

Nathaniel Clyne may step into the back three, while Jefferson Lerma is another option, though he’s expected to return to midfield duties in place of Adam Wharton, whose minutes remain monitored due to recent fitness issues.

Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucoure (both knee injuries) are sidelined for the rest of the season, but there are no fresh concerns following the Bournemouth draw.

Conclusion

A third match within a week might result in some weary Arsenal legs, but Arteta can rotate selectively, and his team are arguably enjoying their finest spell of the season to date.

Palace’s three-man defence should pose a tougher challenge than Ipswich did, yet their attack struggled to make an impact even with a full lineup against Bournemouth, and the looming FA Cup semifinal may also be a distraction for the visitors.

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 2/5

Bookmaker: BetUS