Overview
After three consecutive seasons of second place, Mikel Arteta's team finally ended their 22-year Premier League title drought with an emotional championship in the 2025-2026 season.
Arsenal fans experienced breathtaking moments when Erling Haaland scored the equalizer for Manchester City in the match against Bournemouth. However, the fact that the Vitality Stadium team kept one point officially brought the championship back to North London.
Although not considered one of the most explosive Premier League champions in history, Arsenal is still preparing to close the season with a very impressive score. If they win in the final round, the "Gunners" will reach 85 points.
Arsenal also entered round 38 with extremely impressive form on the closing day of the season. The London team has won all 14 matches of the last season in the Premier League and has not lost in this round since the 2004-2005 season.
However, the challenge at Selhurst Park will not be easy. Crystal Palace is having a very good record in their home matches at the end of the season when they are unbeaten in the last 12 times hosting opponents in the Premier League closing round, winning up to 8 matches.
However, Crystal Palace's mind at this time is probably somewhat directed towards the Conference League final in Leipzig next week, where they are facing the opportunity to win the first European title in the club's history.
Going deep in the European arena also caused the domestic form of Oliver Glasner's team to decline significantly. Palace has not won in the last 6 matches in the Premier League and still has a risk of ending the season in 16th place if Nottingham Forest defeats Bournemouth.
In the previous round, Crystal Palace continued to reveal problems in their defense when they drew Brentford 2-2 despite taking the lead twice. That was also the fifth consecutive match they conceded at least 2 goals in the Premier League.
Selhurst Park home ground this season is no longer too much of a support when Palace has only won four matches here.
Recent head-to-head history makes Arsenal even more confident. The "Gunners" once beat Crystal Palace 5-1 away from home last season and have won 8 of their last nine encounters with the South London team.
Personnel situation
Crystal Palace paid a high price in terms of strength after the 2-2 draw with Brentford, especially in defense when Maxence Lacroix, Chadi Riad and Chris Richards were all injured.
Among these, Richards is definitely absent against Arsenal after tearing his ankle ligaments. Oliver Glasner hopes Lacroix and Riad will only have cramps, but if either of them does not recover in time, Jefferson Lerma or Nathaniel Clyne may have to retreat to play as reluctant center-backs.
On Arsenal's side, Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber both appeared in the championship celebration activities in the middle of the week, and Merino is assessed to have a chance to return in the final match after training with the whole team.
David Raya, William Saliba and Bukayo Saka are also being monitored for fitness. Timber's case alone still makes the Arsenal coaching staff cautious as the Dutch player still has the goal of participating in the Champions League final as well as the upcoming World Cup.
Expected lineup:
Crystal Palace: Benitez, Canvot, Riad, Lacroix, Munoz, Lerma, Hughes, Sosa, Sarr, Johnson, Strand Larsen.
Arsenal: Kepa, Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Odegaard, Norgaard, Lewis-Skelly, Madueke, Jesus, Martinelli.
The match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal takes place at 10:00 p.m. on April 25 (Vietnam time).
