Mikel Arteta is confident Arsenal can overcome their scoring woes in the Premier League when they face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
The Gunners have already beaten Palace this week, coming from behind to triumph 3-2 in the EFL Cup quarter-final thanks to Gabriel Jesus' second-half hat-trick.
They are now unbeaten in their last nine games in all competitions, but are looking to close the gap on the top two by returning to league glory.
After failing to win despite a dominant victory in the 0-0 draw against Everton, Arteta acknowledged there was a problem but expects the story to die down if Arsenal score from open play in the Premier League.
“The frustrating thing is when you look back at all the incredible things the team is doing and still not being rewarded for the three points,” he said.
“Looking back at other games in the league, our margins were ten times greater than many other teams that won that day, but this is football.
“Ultimately we have to put the ball in the back of the net, and then we won't have that problem anymore. What the team produces and the way the team dominates the game, there is very little to say.”
Just when you thought this move couldn't get any better…
Enjoy six of our best against Crystal Palace from recent years
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 18, 2024
Meanwhile, Palace's 3-1 win over Brighton last weekend moved them four points clear of the relegation zone as they extended their unbeaten streak in the Premier League to five games.
Eddie Nketiah was a shining spark off the bench at the Amex Stadium and the Emirates in midweek as he came off the bench to score against his former side, and Oliver Glasner believes he will soon score his elusive first Premier League goal for Palace find.
“He is [Nketiah] very ambitious, he works hard and was thrown back with an injury and then didn't come back,” Glasner said.
“Then it's about waiting for your chance. He and Daichi Kamada had a very positive impact at Brighton because we were struggling at the start of the second half. As soon as they came on, they worked very hard.
“He wants to score; I see this every day in training. But it is my experience that if a player works as hard as he works, he gets the reward.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Crystal Palace – Eddie Nketiah
Despite scoring in the EFL Cup, Nketiah has had 20 shots in 11 Premier League games without scoring since joining from Arsenal earlier this season.
Four players have scored their first Premier League goal for a club against Arsenal, having previously played for the Gunners in the competition: Kevin Campbell (Nottingham Forest, 1995), Nicolas Anelka (Bolton, 2006), David Bentley (Tottenham, 2008) and Konstantinos Mavropanos (West Ham, 2023).
What it's all about #CPFC pic.twitter.com/zm6DKcihaT
— Crystal Palace FC (@CPFC) December 16, 2024
Arsenal – Gabriel Martinelli
Gabriel Martinelli has scored more Premier League goals against Crystal Palace than against any other opponent (five).
Three of these came as substitutes, with no Gunners player scoring from the bench against any specific opponent in the league.
MATCH PREDICTION: ARSENAL WINS
Arsenal have lost just two of their last 19 away games against Palace (W10 D7), with both defeats coming in the Premier League by 3-0 (April 2017, April 2022).
Arsenal are unbeaten in all nine Premier League derby matches in London in 2024 (W7 D2). The last team to go unbeaten in such matches in a full calendar year was Chelsea in 2005 (W9 D1), while the last time Arsenal did so was in 2004 (W7 D3).
The Eagles have lost their last four Premier League meetings with Arsenal, having lost just one of their previous eight against the Gunners (W2 D5).
Since beating Arsenal in April 2022, Palace have lost their last five matches against the Gunners in all competitions by an aggregate score of 15-3.
Palace have alternated between defeat (four) and victory (three) in their last seven Premier League home games in London, losing 2-0 to Fulham at Selhurst Park last time out.
OPTA CHANCE OF WINNING
Crystal Palace – 20.3%
Draw – 23.3%
Arsenal – 56.4%
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