In the first of their two home ties this Gameweek, Arsenal cross swords with Crystal Palace at the Emirates. The Gunners’ title charge was stymied by West Ham’s miraculous comeback last weekend, while the Eagles have generated some much-needed momentum with two draws and a win in their previous trio of matches.
Tallying 11 goals and the second-most big chances (10), Arsenal were arguably the league’s most dominant attacking unit over their last four fixtures. It’s somewhat surprising, then, that the Gunners have lacked that ruthlessness at home this campaign, ranking seventh-bottom for shot-conversion rate (9.1%). Regardless, investors in their defence will draw heart from the fact that only Manchester United have conceded fewer goals (seven compared to 10) on their own patch.
The Eagles were profligate in their previous four outings, converting 57 attempts into just three goals. On a more positive note, Alan Pardew’s side tightened up over that period, conceding three goals and the fifth-fewest shots inside the box (27). Delving into their road form, Palace have allowed fewer big chances (16) than any other team but lay claim to just two clean sheets, offering encouragement for both clubs at the Emirates.
