Arsenal vs Crystal Palace Preview, prediction, lineups, betting tips & odds | EFL Cup 2025-26 Quarter-Final

Quarter-finals of the EFL Cup are here!

Mikel Arteta’s side, Arsenal, get ready for a big Tuesday night game at the Emirates Stadium. They face Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup quarter-final there. The Gunners enter this London derby full of confidence after Viktor Gyokeres secured a vital victory against Everton.

That result returned them to the Premier League summit. Arsenal aim to make the most of this run. They want to book a place in the semi-finals, where Chelsea await the winner.

Oliver Glasner’s Eagles travel to North London, up against it. Their European commitments in the UEFA Conference League have packed their winter calendar. Palace recently suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to Leeds United.

This shows the cracks in their back line, which they must address before confronting the league leaders. The South London club lifted the Community Shield earlier this season. However, recent fatigue has stopped them from finding a rhythm.

Palace hope to defy the odds. They aim to show the same fight that saw them conquer Manchester City in last year’s FA Cup. Arteta is likely to rotate his squad. However, he retains enough firepower to test a Palace defence that leaked goals last weekend.

Kick-off:

• Location: London, England
• Stadium: Emirates Stadium
• Date: Wednesday, December 24
• Kick-off Time: 1:30 AM IST
• Referee: Stuart Attwell
• VAR: Not in use

Form:

Arsenal (in all competitions): W-W-W-L-W

Crystal Palace (in all competitions): L-D-L-W-W

Players to watch out for:

Arsenal: Viktor Gyokeres

Viktor Gyokeres warrants scrutiny because he consistently finds the net. It is a fact he proved with his vital winner against Everton. The Swedish marksman leads the attack with a physical intensity that forces defenders into errors. Meanwhile, his finishing converts even minimal chances into goals. Arsenal depend on his ability to hold the ball since this brings others into play effectively.

Steps up. Dispatched. 😤 pic.twitter.com/U3lc8RJIjF

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 21, 2025

Crystal Palace: Adam Wharton

Adam Wharton acts as the vital heartbeat for the Eagles because his exceptional passing range dictates the entire tempo of their play. The young midfielder consistently breaks opposition lines with incisive forward balls. It allows the front three to find dangerous spaces. Consequently, Palace depend on his composure to resist the heavy Arsenal press and maintain possession during transition phases.

Match Facts:

• Arsenal enter this tie with a formidable historical advantage at home because they have defeated Crystal Palace in four of their last five meetings at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners turned their ground into a difficult venue for visiting teams this season, and they consistently overwhelm opponents with high-intensity pressing from the first whistle. Mikel Arteta’s men intend to extend this dominance to the EFL Cup since they view home form as the foundation of their silverware ambitions.
• This quarter-final offers the hosts a direct opportunity to settle a score after Crystal Palace beat them on penalties to lift the Community Shield back in August. That Wembley defeat denied Arsenal the season’s first trophy. So, the players view this rematch as the perfect chance to prove their superiority.
• The League Cup remains the only domestic trophy Mikel Arteta has yet to win as Arsenal manager, which adds significant personal motivation for him to field a competitive lineup. He previously guided the club to FA Cup glory and multiple Community Shields, but this specific competition has eluded him so far.

Arsenal vs Crystal Palace Betting Tips and Odds:

• Arsenal to win: 1.63 as per 1xBet.
• Both teams to score – No: 1.80 as per Winmatch.
• Arsenal 2-0 Palace – 7.0 as per 1Win.

Injuries and team News:

Mikel Arteta must manage a depleted squad because five players remain in the treatment room with various injuries. Defensive regulars Ben White and Gabriel miss out alongside Cristhian Mosquera. Furthermore, Kai Havertz continues his recovery from knee surgery, while teenage prospect Max Dowman stays sidelined with a lingering ankle problem.

Crystal Palace travel to North London with a heavily depleted squad since several first-team stars remain on the treatment table. Oliver Glasner must cope without Daichi Kamada and Daniel Munoz, who are both sidelined with hamstring and knee injuries until the new year. Furthermore, Cheick Doucouré, Chadi Riad, Rio Cardines, and Caleb Kporha also miss out. Additionally, Ismaila Sarr is away on international duty for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Head-To-Head stats:

• Total Matches: 59
• Arsenal Wins: 36
• Crystal Palace Wins: 6 (plus 1 Community Shield win via penalties)
• Draws: 17

Predicted Starting Lineups:

Arsenal Predicted starting Lineup (4-3-3):

Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Calafiori; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli

Crystal Palace Predicted Starting Lineup (3-4-2-1):

Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Clyne, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Nketiah, Pino; Mateta

Match Prediction:

Arsenal should emerge victorious because they possess significantly better squad depth than Oliver Glasner’s injury-ravaged side. Experts predict a 2-0 or 3-0 home win since the Gunners hold an eight-game unbeaten streak against the Eagles. Furthermore, Arsenal maintain a 54.1% probability of winning based on their recent form at the Emirates Stadium.

Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Crystal Palace

Telecast Details

India: FanCode

UK: Sky Sports Football

US: Paramount+

Nigeria: SuperSport

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