Arsenal are set to host Crystal Palace in a highly anticipated Carabao Cup quarter-final clash at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday evening. The winners of this London derby will secure a semi-final spot and a meeting with Chelsea, adding significant stakes to the encounter.
Carabao Cup Quarter-Final Preview: Form and Fixture Fatigue
The Gunners enter this match as Premier League leaders and are considered strong favourites by most UK bookmakers. Mikel Arteta's side have won their last three matches across all competitions, aiming to maintain momentum despite their lead in the league being cut to just two points.
For Crystal Palace, the schedule has been gruelling. Their quarter-final was delayed due to Europa Conference League commitments last Thursday, where they drew 2-2 with Finland's KPS Kuopio. This match at the Emirates will be their third game in just six days, a factor that could influence manager Oliver Glasner's team selection and their overall energy levels.
Palace's form has dipped, with no wins in their last three outings. This includes a 4-1 defeat to Leeds United on Saturday, a result Glasner will be desperate to overturn quickly. The Eagles currently sit eighth in the Premier League, a full 13 points behind their upcoming opponents.
Key Betting Tips and Predictions
Our first recommended tip focuses on a familiar face set to haunt his former club. Eberechi Eze, who left Selhurst Park for Arsenal in a £60 million summer transfer, has already scored against Palace this season—netting the only goal in a 1-0 league win in October.
After being rested as an unused substitute at the weekend, Eze is likely to start. With five goals already this campaign, including a hat-trick against Tottenham, backing him to find the net again offers value. Football betting sites like BetMGM offer 5/2 on Eze to score at any time during the match.
The second tip anticipates a controlled victory for the home side. Arsenal have shown strength in depth in this competition, beating Brighton 2-0 in the previous round. Considering Palace's potential fatigue and Arsenal's superior squad depth, a victory by a clear margin is plausible. Bet365 offers 7/2 on Arsenal to win the match by exactly two goals.
Team News and Tactical Outlook
Team selection remains a key talking point, with both managers expected to rotate squads ahead of the busy festive fixture list. Arsenal have several confirmed absentees: Ben White, Gabriel, Kai Havertz, Cristhian Mosquera, and Max Dowman are all ruled out through injury.
However, there could be a welcome return for Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian striker is in contention for his first start since January after recovering from a serious cruciate ligament injury. Youngster Ethan Nwaneri may also feature after starting in the last round.
For the visitors, Daichi Kamada is injured and Ismaila Sarr is away at the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal. Striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, who scored in this fixture last season, is a major doubt as he manages an ongoing knee issue.
Historically, this fixture has favoured Arsenal recently. You have to go back to 2022 for Palace's last win—a 3-0 victory at Selhurst Park. Since then, in eight meetings, Arsenal have won seven and drawn one, including a 3-2 win at this same stage last season where Gabriel Jesus scored a hat-trick.
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