Arsenal vs Crystal Palace Prediction: Could this one go to the wire?

Arsenal entertain Crystal Palace in the remaining outstanding Carabao Cup quarter-final tie on Tuesday night. The winner will face Chelsea over two legs in the semi-final, while Newcastle and Manchester City will fight it out for the other final berth.

Kick-off at The Emirates is scheduled for 20:00.

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The Gunners continue to have Max Dowman (ankle), Gabriel Magalhaes (thigh), Kai Havertz (knee), Cristhian Mosquera (ankle) and Ben White (hamstring) unavailable for action.

For Palace, the Africa Cup of Nations means they're without the outstanding Ismaila Sarr; while key right-back Daniel Munoz and midfielder Daichi Kamada are missing with knee and thigh injuries respectively.

Rio Cardines (muscle), Cheick Doucoure (knee), Caleb Kporha (back) and Chadi Riad (knee) are also out of contention for the Eagles, who remain watchful about Jean-Philippe Mateta and his knee issues.

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ARS vs PAL - Draw (90 mins) @ 10/3

I watched both sides in action at weekend; very different outcomes, but a common trait in my opinion nevertheless. The Gunners went to Merseyside and managed a hard-fought three points courtesy of a 1-0 victory at the Hill Dickinson Stadium against Everton.

The winner was a needlessly-conceded penalty kick - one of only two shots on target for the Premier League leaders all afternoon. It was a huge result in the context of their quest for the title but to me they looked jaded.

Everton had their chances and Toffees' substitute Beto gave the normally imperious central defender William Saliba plenty to think about in the second-half. It was a case of winning ugly I guess - a fabulous habit with May in mind but a reminder that the rest of the season will be no cake-walk.

For Palace, they looked even more fatigued and were promptly thrashed in West Yorkshire, with Leeds and Dominic Calvert-Lewin in particular (2 goals) running riot in a 4-1 win.

The Eagles' consolation was in garbage time as the Americans would say and at no stage threatened to take a meaningful hand in proceedings. Arsenal at least are winning, though perhaps not quite with their earlier-season efficacy, and 13 points separate the pair in the PL standings.

So - the metrics still point to an Arsenal win on Tuesday. They're 1/2 for the 90 minutes (66.7% in terms of implied probability), with the Draw at 10/3 (23.1%). Palace can be backed at 13/2 (13.3%).

No extra-time until the semis - it's straight to penalties if, as I'm hoping, there's a stalemate after an hour-and-a-half of action.

I'm not much for odds-on betting in football. Much rather for a modest stake look for some value, and the draw at 10/3 represents just that. Yes, the visitors will have to shake off that Leeds result and cope with their third match in five days, but if you can't get 'up' for these massive tests then there's something badly amiss.

The laboured Arsenal I saw on Saturday might of course be entirely reinvigorated by a home tie that could lead to a semi-final, and therefore a shot at Wembley. For all their excellence in recent seasons the Gunners, and manager Mikel Arteta, have just the 2020 FA Cup to show for it all and I'm sure are desperate to enhance that narrative.

If only it were that straightforward, eh? Palace lost the gifted Eberechi Eze to their rivals before the start of this campaign and that was a body-blow; but are FA Cup holders let's not forget, and deserved far better than a 3-0 defeat at home to a considerable opponent in Manchester City recently for example (16 shots, four on target).

Adam Wharton in particular was in fine fettle that day and he needs to be firing on all cylinders tonight. The incentive is there for both sides of course, and I'm hoping that this will be an entertaining scrap where no-one is able to deliver the telling blow in 'regulation.'

Besides, it's always tremendous fun to watch the penalties, as long as you haven't got a massive vested interest in the outcome.

If Arsenal find their early-season sure-footedness and Palace are still smarting from events 'ooop north then it could be messy, and I'll hold my hands up - but I've a hankering for a closer affair than many would imagine and I'm chancing my arm accordingly.

May I take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas from everyone here at Betfred, I hope you can share some quality time with family and friends, and of course enjoy all the brilliant sport we'll be treated to over the festive period.

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