Our prediction for this EFL Cup match:
Arsenal
Match Time & Date:
18/12/2024
20:30
Prediction: 2-1
Crystal Palace
A spot in the EFL Cup semis will be at stake when Arsenal and Crystal Palace square off against each other at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening. The Gunners failed to impress in a goalless draw with Everton and, no doubt, they are eager to get back on course as soon as possible. All Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus, and Thomas Partey are in line for a recall to the starting XI, while all Calafiori, Tomiyasu, White, and Zinchenko continue to miss out with injury.
The Eagles, on the other hand, aim to build on a thrilling 3-1 win over Brighton, but given their negative run at Emirates Stadium, we are tempted to place our bets on Mikel Arteta’s troops. It has to be noted that Arsenal crushed Crystal Palace 5-0 in their last meeting at the venue. Even though there are no fresh injury worries in the away team, both Kamada and Nketiah should be recalled to the starting eleven.
Highlighted Player (Jean-Philippe Mateta):
A talented French youngster Jean-Philippe Mateta worked his way up through football’s less glamorous landscapes plying his trade at local amateur sides and third-tier outfits before Ligue 1 giants Lyon took notice of his 11 goals in 22 matches and brought him to the big league.
Having failed to make it into the first team in a debut season with Les Gones, Mateta was shipped out to Le Havre, leading the club to promotion play-offs. Bundesliga side Mainz took notice of his ability and came calling in the summer of 2018 after he bagged 17 goals in 35 league matches. An imposing physical presence at his 192cm, Mateta is a mobile forward and a decent dribbler who can finish with both of his feet.
Having worked his way up from the very bottom, Jean-Philippe Mateta is a committed individual determined to make a name for himself. His impressive goalscoring record got rewarded in the form of France U19 call-up in 2017.
Highlighted Team (Arsenal):
Arsenal are regarded as one of the best English teams. The Gunners have won 12 FA Cup trophies, 13 league titles and two League Cups, but they have yet to lift the Champions League trophy. Arsene Wenger’s team were on the verge of beating Barcelona in the Champions League final back in 2006, but they eventually failed to win the prestigious title.
Arsenal used to play their homes at Highbury, but in 2006 they moved to the Emirates Stadium. The capacity of the stadium is 60,260. The Gunners won their last Premier League trophy back in 2004, with the capital club going through the season without a single loss. The likes of Thierry Henry, Denis Bergkamp and Robert Pires were part of the team back then, but Arsenal have not won the league trophy ever since.
Arsenal was founded by Woolwich munitions workers as Dial Square back in 1886. It is well known that Tottenham Hotspur are Arsenal’s fiercest rivals and there have always been fireworks when the two local rivals meet in the North London derby.
Real Madrid
Pachuca
Newcastle
Brentford 
Monaco 
PSG
Southampton
Liverpool
Espanyol 
Valencia 
Villarreal 
Rayo Vallecano
