Former England striker Peter Crouch has predicted that Chelsea will beat Arsenal 3-2 in their third-round meeting in the English league.
Crouch’s forecast gives Chelsea the edge in what is expected to be one of the most significant fixtures of the round. His prediction is for a five-goal match, with Chelsea scoring three times and Arsenal scoring twice.
Both sides have made identical starts to the campaign. Chelsea and Arsenal have each collected six points and are currently among the teams at the top of the table. Their meeting will therefore bring together two clubs who remain in the leading group after the opening matches.
The fixture is scheduled to take place on 6 September. Crouch believes Chelsea will come out on top, despite the strength of the opposition and Arsenal’s position alongside them among the early leaders.
The former England international also highlighted Chelsea’s attacking potential when explaining his assessment of the match. He singled out Joao Pedro as a player of particular importance to the team’s threat in the final third.
Crouch’s view is based on the possibility that Chelsea’s attacking options can make the difference in a closely contested game. His predicted scoreline suggests that Arsenal will also have a significant impact on the match, but that Chelsea will ultimately produce enough in front of goal to secure victory.
The encounter will be played with both teams level on points, adding further importance to the result. A win for either side would give them an opportunity to strengthen their position among the early leaders, while defeat would end the unbeaten start of one of the two clubs.
Crouch, who previously played for the England national team, made the prediction in comments reported by Goal. His assessment focuses particularly on Chelsea’s forward threat and Joao Pedro’s contribution to it.
The match between Arsenal and Chelsea will take place on 6 September. Both clubs have six points from their opening fixtures and are in the leading group before the meeting.
Crouch’s final prediction is Chelsea 3-2 Arsenal.
