Arsenal vs Crystal Palace: Set-piece dominance at Emirates

Arsenal will host Crystal Palace at 9 PM on October 26th at the Emirates Stadium with a weapon that has often broken deadlocks: set pieces. Mikel Arteta's side have scored 10 goals from set pieces in the Premier League this season, including the corner kick that helped Trossard seal the victory against Fulham in round 8. Conversely, Crystal Palace created many chances but squandered them considerably, making their trip to North London a tough test.

Arsenal's set-piece strength under Nicolas Jover

Since the arrival of set-piece assistant Nicolas Jover, set pieces have become Arsenal's hallmark. In the previous round, a well-executed corner unlocked Fulham's defense, with Trossard scoring the only goal from close range. The 10 goals from set pieces in the Premier League this season directly reflect the effectiveness of this weapon when the team is struggling.

Not only are they attacking, but Arsenal also maintain a reliable defensive foundation. Goalkeeper David Raya hasn't faced a single shot on target in his last two Premier League matches. The Emirates Stadium is therefore a strong point: the Gunners have won 7 of their last 8 home games, scoring 28 goals, and just thrashed Atletico Madrid 4-0 in the Champions League midweek.

Crystal Palace: Lots of firepower, poor conversion rate.

Data shows that Crystal Palace leads the Premier League in shots on target (43) and has a total expected goals xG of 17.4. However, finishing efficiency is a bottleneck: they missed 22 out of 33 clear chances. In their last 14 Premier League matches, Oliver Glasner's team drew 8 and lost only once – a trend that shows organizational ability, but also exposes problems in finishing.

Tactical Corner: The Battle Between Discipline and Performance

Arsenal prioritize controlling possession, but when necessary, they are ready to accelerate in set pieces – where organization, positioning, and ball trajectory are repeated with high precision. This is an effective Plan B when their open style of play runs into a deadlock.

Crystal Palace are once again relying on the volume of chances created. They have many shots on target, resulting in a high xG (xilmere goal difference), but their conversion rate of those chances remains low. Facing an opponent who is minimizing the number of shots on target they concede, Palace's challenge will lie in their decisions within the penalty area: either improve their finishing quality or continue to be hampered by Arsenal's defensive concentration.

Key statistics

Force information

Arsenal

Missing: Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke, Gabriel Jesus, Hincapie (injured). Gabriel's participation is uncertain.

Crystal Palace

Absent: Caleb Kporha, Cheick Doucoure, Chadi Riad (injured).

Predicted lineup (according to source)

Arsenal

Raya; Timber, Saliba, Mosquera, Calafiori; Eze, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli.

Crystal Palace

Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Pino, Sarr; Mateta.

Rates, predictions, and impacts

Asian Handicap: Arsenal -1 1/4; Over/Under: 2 3/4. Prediction: Arsenal wins 2-1.

Taking advantage of defending champions Liverpool's slip-ups and Manchester City's inconsistent form, Arsenal have climbed to the top of the table. Another win at the Emirates would solidify their position. For Crystal Palace, a realistic goal is a point – especially considering they need to improve their conversion rate to match their xG and shots on target.

English Premier League 2025/26 Match Schedule - Round 9

• October 25, 21:00: Newcastle - Fulham
• October 25, 21:00: Chelsea - Sunderland
• October 25, 23:30: Manchester United - Brighton
• October 26 02:00: Brentford - Liverpool
• October 26, 21:00: Arsenal - Crystal Palace
• October 26, 21:00: Aston Villa - Manchester City
• October 26, 21:00: Bournemouth - Nottingham Forest
• October 26th, 21:00: Wolves - Burnley
• October 26, 23:30: Everton - Tottenham