Match Preview: Crystal Palace vs Arsenal - prediction, team news, live stream

Arsenal's Title March Faces Selhurst Park Hurdle

The Premier League title race comes down to the wire, and for Arsenal, Sunday’s trip to Selhurst Park is anything but a formality. With only four points separating them from Manchester City at the summit, every pass, tackle, and shot carries immense weight. Fans desperate to catch the action can find a Crystal Palace vs Arsenal live stream, but for Mikel Arteta’s squad, the focus must be solely on navigating a notoriously tricky away fixture against a Crystal Palace side that, despite recent struggles, can still spring a surprise. The Gunners sit top with 82 points, knowing anything less than a victory could hand the initiative back to their relentless pursuers.

Match Details

• Competition: Premier League (England)
• Venue: Selhurst Park, London
• Kick-off: Sunday, 24 May 2026 • 16:00 UK Time
• Referee: F. Hallam

Current Form

Crystal Palace arrive on the back of a deeply inconsistent run, managing only one win in their last five outings across all competitions. That solitary victory, a 2-1 triumph over Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Europa Conference League, stands in stark contrast to their domestic performances. In the Premier League, they have picked up just two points from a possible twelve, drawing 2-2 with Brentford and Everton, while suffering comprehensive 0-3 defeats to both Manchester City and Bournemouth. This pattern suggests a team struggling for compactness, prone to allowing opponents too much space, especially when facing teams with attacking quality.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have shown the steel of potential champions, responding to a 1-1 Champions League draw against Atletico Madrid with four consecutive victories. Three of those Premier League wins — 1-0 against Burnley, 1-0 against West Ham, and 3-0 against Fulham — highlight a team capable of grinding out results, with a particular emphasis on defensive solidity. Their 1-0 home victory against Atletico to progress in the Champions League further cemented this resilient approach. The Gunners have kept four clean sheets in their last five matches, demonstrating a collective focus on shutting down opposition attacks and securing crucial points.

Team News

Crystal Palace face significant challenges in key areas due to injury. The absence of Cheik Doucoure with a knee injury strips the midfield of a crucial defensive shield, leaving them potentially vulnerable to Arsenal's positional play and swift transitions. Eberechi Nketiah (thigh) and Chris Richards (ankle) also remain sidelined, impacting both attacking depth and defensive cover. Without Nketiah, options like Jean-Philippe Mateta, Odsonne Édouard, or Jefferson Lerma will need to shoulder the goalscoring burden, but the squad lacks the same natural potency up front.

Arsenal also contend with defensive absences, though perhaps less impactful given their squad depth. Jurrien Timber (ankle) and Ben White (knee) are both unavailable. While White's absence at right-back could lead to a reshuffle, with perhaps Gabriel or William Saliba shifting or another defender stepping in, the core of their defence, featuring David Raya in goal and the central partnership of Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães, remains intact. The likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Takehiro Tomiyasu, or even Jakub Kiwior could fill the void, ensuring the team's high line and pressing triggers remain largely unaffected.

Head to Head

Recent history between these two sides suggests Arsenal have the upper hand, but Crystal Palace have proven capable of making it uncomfortable. Arsenal’s overall dominance is clear, especially with results like the 5-1 away win in December 2024. However