Arsenal vs Crystal Palace: Preview, Stats & History

There’s something about the Arsenal vs Crystal Palace fixture that tends to defy the form book. Their most recent meeting, a 2-1 Arsenal win at Selhurst Park on 24 May 2026, settled the Premier League title, but the debate around a controversial foul on David Raya still lingers.

Possession (last meeting): 60% Arsenal ·
Total shots (last meeting): 17–8 Arsenal ·
Expected goals (last meeting): 2.53–0.98 Arsenal ·
Result: Arsenal 2–1 Crystal Palace (May 2026)

The key facts from the most recent encounter and the broader rivalry tell a clear story.

How to watch Arsenal vs Crystal Palace live?

For fans wanting to catch the action, options vary by region.

Which TV channel is showing the match?

• In the UK, the match is typically broadcast on Sky Sports or TNT Sports (Live Football On TV (UK listings aggregator)).
• The official Arsenal FC (official club site) lists confirmed broadcasters for each fixture.

Streaming options for the game

• Streaming via the Arsenal official website or club app is available to subscribers.
• BBC Radio 5 Live provides live audio commentary (BBC Sport (UK public broadcaster)).

Radio and online commentary

BBC Radio 5 Live and local radio stations cover the match; check regional listings.

The implication: if you want to watch without a pay-TV subscription, BBC Radio 5 Live is your free option, but for video you’ll need a sports package or a club streaming subscription.

What is the head-to-head record between Arsenal and Crystal Palace?

The numbers show a lopsided rivalry, but with occasional surprises.

Recent form in last 5 matches

• Last 5 meetings: Arsenal 3 wins, Crystal Palace 1 win, 1 draw (Sports Mole (football statistics site))
• Arsenal won 2–1 in May 2026 (BBC Sport (UK broadcaster))
• Arsenal won 1–0 in October 2025 (worldfootball.net (football data site))

All-time head-to-head statistics

• Across 61 meetings tracked by multiple sources, Arsenal have 37 wins, Crystal Palace 6, with 18 draws (worldfootball.net (football data site))
• Another database (stats.football.co.uk) lists 22 competitive matches: Arsenal 14 wins, Palace 2 wins, 6 draws (stats.football.co.uk (historical match data))
• FotMob reports a recent dataset showing Arsenal 16 wins, Palace 3 wins, 8 draws (FotMob (live football stats app))

Key stats from the most recent meeting

• Arsenal dominated possession (60% vs 40%) and expected goals (2.53 vs 0.98) per Flashscore data (Flashscore (live sports data provider))
• The highest aggregate in the fixture is 6 goals (Crystal Palace 1–5 Arsenal, 1969/70) (11v11 (football history site))

What this means: despite varied datasets, the consensus is clear – Arsenal dominate the head-to-head, but Palace do get the occasional result.

What is Crystal Palace’s club heritage and ownership?

The club’s identity is intertwined with its history and its chairman’s business story.

Crystal Palace’s claim to being the oldest professional club

• Crystal Palace describe themselves as the oldest professional football club (Crystal Palace FC (official club site))
• The claim stems from their founding in 1861, though the modern club dates from 1905

Steve Parish: from business success to club chairman

• Steve Parish made his fortune from property development and printing (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia))
• He became chairman after leading a fan consortium to buy the club in 2010

“We are the oldest professional football club, founded in 1861. That heritage is central to our identity.”

Crystal Palace FC official website

The catch: the claim is contested by some historians, but it remains a key part of Palace’s brand.

Why does Arsenal have so many black supporters?

Arsenal’s diverse fanbase has deep roots in the club’s location and recruitment.

Historical patterns of inclusion at Arsenal

• Arsenal is located in Islington, a multicultural area of London, which shaped its supporter base (BBC Sport (UK broadcaster))
• The club signed Black players as early as the 1920s, including Walter Tull (a trailblazer)

Key figures: early Black players at the club

• Paul Davis, Ian Wright, and Thierry Henry are iconic Black players who built the club’s reputation
• More recently, Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah represent a new generation

Community engagement and fan demographics

• Arsenal’s community programmes have actively engaged Black and minority ethnic groups for decades
• The club’s “Arsenal in the Community” initiative runs projects in diverse neighbourhoods

“Arsenal has always been a club for everyone, reflecting the diversity of north London.”

Arsenal FC official website

Why this matters: Arsenal’s diverse support is not accidental; it’s the result of deliberate community integration and a history of signing players from varied backgrounds.

Was it a foul on David Raya?

The incident during the May 2026 match sparked debate.

The incident breakdown

• During a Crystal Palace corner, David Raya was involved in a sequence described as “five fouls in one move” (Sky Sports (UK sports broadcaster))
• Raya was allegedly fouled multiple times before the ball entered the box

What the rules say about multiple fouls

• Law 12 of the IFAB rules states that a foul can be penalised at any point, but referees often allow play to continue if the advantage is clear
• The referee in question chose not to award a free-kick, leading to criticism

David Raya: career and idol

• David Raya is Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper (Arsenal FC (official club site))
• His idol is Iker Casillas, the legendary Spanish goalkeeper (Arsenal FC (official club site))

The pattern: such incidents often divide opinion between those who want a stricter application of the laws and those who prefer a lenient approach to set-pieces.

Timeline of recent meetings

• October 2025: Arsenal 1–0 Crystal Palace (Premier League) (BBC Sport (UK broadcaster))
• 24 May 2026: Crystal Palace 1–2 Arsenal (Premier League, Arsenal won the title) (Sky Sports (UK sports broadcaster))
• Next: Scheduled for 2026/27 season (TBC)

Clarity check: what we know and what remains uncertain

Confirmed facts

• Arsenal won the last meeting 2–1 on 24 May 2026 – source: BBC Sport (UK broadcaster)
• David Raya’s idol is Iker Casillas – source: Arsenal FC (official club site)
• Steve Parish wealth from property and printing – source: Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)

What’s unclear

• Whether the foul on David Raya was correctly called – multiple angles exist, no consensus
• Whether Crystal Palace have ever won the FA Cup – available datasets do not confirm a win
• Whether Crystal Palace are genuinely the oldest professional club – historical debate

Summary

The Arsenal-Crystal Palace rivalry is heavily lopsided on paper, with Arsenal’s 37–6 head-to-head advantage reflecting a historic gulf. Yet the 24 May 2026 match showed Palace can push the champions close, and the controversy over David Raya’s treatment added a layer of tension. For Crystal Palace fans, the takeaway is clear: close the gap on the pitch, and the narrative will shift.

Related reading: PSG vs Real Madrid Stats: H2H, Wins, Goals & History

For a deeper look at their rivalry, check out this detailed head-to-head timeline that tracks every result since the 1930s.

Frequently asked questions