Arsenal’s match at home to Crystal Palace had many believing an upset could be on the cards. The Eagles had fired manager and Arsenal legend Patrick Vieria days before and on Thursday Arsenal had crashed out the UEFA Europa League following a penalty shootout defeat to Sporting Club De Portugal. However, there was no upset to be seen as Arsenal dispatched Crystal Palace 4-1 in a comfortable evening at Emirates Stadium to go eight points clear with ten Premier League games remaining.
With William Saliba unable to play following his back injury against Sporting, Rob Holding came in to make his first Premier League start in ten months. However, that didn’t derail Arsenal in any way as midway through the first half they found the lead through Gabriel Martinelli who found the far bottom corner with a great finish with his weaker left foot. The goal gave Arsenal a strong boost of confidence following a slightly slow start and minutes before the half-time interval, Ben White (not for the first time in the game) played a great through ball to Bukayo Saka who classily finished into the corner to give Arsenal a richly deserved 2-0 advantage at half time.
The second half continues the same way the first one ended, with Arsenal dominating possession and creating dangerous opportunities. And the third goal arrived for them as following some nice passing, Granit Xhaka lifted the ball past the young Palace goalkeeper to all but kill of the game at 3-0 with half an hour to go. Despite them having little threat upfront throughout the game, Palace did find a goal back as Schlupp bundled the ball past Aaron Ramsdale as Arsenal conceded from enter another corner – something which has been a theme of late which will no doubt concern Mikel Arteta. The Arsenal manager responded to the Palace goal by bribing on Gabriel Jesus and Kieran Tierney. And the latter who set up Bukayo Saka to grab his second of the game and Arsenal’s fourth to seal the three points which put Arsenal in a position where they are eight points clear of Manchester City, although Pep Guardiola’s team to have a game in hand on the Gunners.
Arsenal head into the international break in a great position and only time will tell how the final ten games of the Premier League season will go. The Gunners first test in the run-in is a home tie against Leeds United at Emirates Stadium.
Player Ratings:
Aaron Ramsdale: 7 – Has little to do although made a great save from Zaha in the first half
Ben White: 9 – Amazing performance from White. Played a succession of great passes to Saka in the first half with one resulting in an assist
Rob Holding: 7 – Solid performance from Holding in Saliba’s absence
Gabriel: 7 – Solid as ever
Oleksandr Zinchenko: 8 – Was everywhere as usual. Played some nice passes and defended well
Thomas Partey: 7 – The Ghanaian did what he almost always does – plays great for The Arsenal
Granit Xhaka: 8 – Back in fine form and back in the goals for the Swiss
Martin Odegaard: 7 – High energy and quality on the ball
Bukayo Saka: 8 – Two goals, one assist, one super Bukayo Saka
Leandro Trossard: 7 – Another assist for the Belgian who’s proving to be an inspired signing
Gabriel Martinelli: 8 – Terrorised Joel Ward and put his midweek penalty miss behind him by opening the scoring