Shearer Predicts Crystal Palace Reserve Team Role, Premier League Fixtures
Alan Shearer says premier league fixtures could tilt Arsenal’s title chase because Crystal Palace are likely to send out a reserve team on the final day. Arsenal moved five points clear after beating West Ham United 1-0, and the gap still sits under pressure because Manchester City have a game in hand.
Shearer on Palace Rotation
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer said Arsenal will be confident heading into their last two league games. He pointed to Burnley at home and then Palace away, adding: “I mean, Burnley at home and Palace away. Palace are going to play a reserve team and that's up to them by the way, because they've earned that right to do that.”
He went further on Palace’s right to protect their own priorities. “It's their football club and they've got an agenda that they need to protect themselves in terms of winning their trophy, so they're entitled to put whatever team out they want. So yeah, they have to be super confident don't they?”
Arsenal And City Pressure
The title picture changed again on Saturday. Manchester City beat Brentford 3-0, cutting Arsenal’s lead to two points before Arsenal answered with a 1-0 win over West Ham United. That result pushed the margin back to five points, but City still have Wednesday May 13 to play their game in hand against Crystal Palace.
A City win against Palace would pull Arsenal’s lead back to two points, which keeps the race live even after Arsenal’s latest result. Arteta, after the West Ham win, kept his own focus on the run-in, saying: “The courage, determination and quality they've shown all week as well, there's so much at stake with everything we've done for 10 months, and now is the moment that matters.”
Palace Before Rayo Vallecano
Palace’s meeting with Arsenal comes just three days before their Europa Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano, the first European final in the club’s history. Micah Richards said that sort of buildup can still leave room for trouble, noting: “He's going to play second string but players who have got something to prove also so that can be sometimes be the hardest games, you know?”
Arsenal still have Burnley at home before traveling to Crystal Palace, while Manchester City visit Bournemouth before welcoming Aston Villa in their final league match. Arsenal’s final-day trip now sits inside a title race that may be decided as much by Palace’s selection as by Arsenal’s own finish.
