Arsenal reignite title bid with big win over Crystal Palace
Arsenal’s win ended a run of three straight defeats in all competitionsArsenal reignited their Premier League title challenge by thrashing struggling Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners’ fight at the top had faltered towards the end of last year as they lost three of their past five Premier League games.
But, after heading off to Dubai for a week-long winter break, Mikel Arteta’s side returned reinvigorated as a Gabriel header, Dean Henderson own goal, Leandro Trossard finish and two late Gabriel Martinelli strikes sealed the three points.
The first two goals came from corners, with the opener coming in the 11th minute when Gabriel nodded in before the defender’s header from another set-piece struck Crystal Palace goalkeeper Henderson to deflect into the back of the net.
The visitors offered little in response. Instead Arsenal added to their lead in the second half when Trossard was sent one-on-one with the goalkeeper and kept his cool to finish confidently.
With Palace already well beaten, Martinelli added further sheen to the win with two goals in injury time, both swept into the far corner.
The win moves Arsenal up to third, two points behind leaders Liverpool but having played a game more than Jurgen Klopp’s side. Crystal Palace, meanwhile, remain 14th in the table.
FA Cup hurt will help us push to PL title – Saka Recap: Arsenal v Crystal PalaceHow did you rate Arsenal’s performance? Have your say hereWhat did you make of Crystal Palace’s display? Send us your views here’Re-energised’ Arsenal show their title-chasing intentHaving seen their title challenge fall away in the latter stages of last season, Gunners fans will no doubt have been concerned by the dip in form their side had towards the end of 2023.
Their only victory in their final five league games of the year was a narrow win against Brighton, while they suffered defeats by Aston Villa, West Ham and Fulham.
The big concern for Arsenal was their struggle to score in that run as they failed to convert the chances they were creating.
But Mikel Arteta said his side had returned from their winter break re-energised, and so it proved with this big win.
They made the most of the opportunities they created, finishing from set-piece situations while Trossard’s goal and Martinelli’s two late shots showed the sort of clinical composure the Gunners’ attack has been missing recently.
Palace fans make their feelings known as slump continuesCrystal Palace fans directed their frustration at the club’s situation towards the ownersThis was always going to be a tough ask for a Palace side missing several key players through injury and international duty, but boss Roy Hodgson will have been disappointed by just how little they offered as an attacking threat.
He had challenged his team to “ask questions” of Arsenal with the few chances they would create, but they failed to do that as they rarely threatened, with most of their shots coming from range.
The one positive for the visitors was the performance of Eberechi Eze. The midfielder – making his 100th Premier League appearance for the Eagles – was their top player and had their best chance with a free-kick that David Raya tipped over.
Palace have now won just one of their past 11 Premier League games and their position in the table is looking increasingly precarious. They are 14th, five points above the relegation zone but having played a game more than Luton in 18th.
The visiting fans made their frustrations known towards the end of the game as they displayed a banner saying: “Wasted potential on and off the pitch, weak decisions taking us backwards.”
Player of the match
Gabriel MartinelliGabriel Martinelli
with an average of 8.75
ArsenalSquad number11Player nameGabriel Martinelli
Squad number6Player nameGabriel Magalhães
Squad number2Player nameSaliba
Squad number19Player nameTrossard
Squad number41Player nameRice
Squad number10Player nameSmith Rowe
Squad number8Player nameØdegaard
Squad number7Player nameSaka
Squad number9Player nameGabriel Jesus
Squad number20Player nameJorginho
Squad number4Player nameWhite
Squad number35Player nameZinchenko
Squad number14Player nameNketiah
Squad number29Player nameHavertz
Squad number15Player nameKiwior
Squad number22Player nameRaya
Crystal PalaceSquad number10Player nameEze
Squad number8Player nameLerma
Squad number6Player nameGuéhi
Squad number16Player nameAndersen
Squad number19Player nameHughes
Squad number3Player nameMitchell
Squad number15Player nameSchlupp
Squad number14Player nameMateta
Squad number30Player nameHenderson
Squad number17Player nameClyne
Squad number26Player nameRichards
Squad number29Player nameAhamada
Squad number11Player nameMatheus França
Squad number5Player nameTomkins
Squad number52Player nameOzoh
Line-upsArsenalFormation 4-3-3
22Raya4White2Saliba6GabrielSubstituted forKiwiorat 81’minutes35Zinchenko8Ødegaard41RiceSubstituted forJorginhoat 73’minutes29HavertzSubstituted forSmith Roweat 69’minutes7Saka9Gabriel JesusSubstituted forNketiahat 81’minutes19TrossardSubstituted forMartinelliat 69’minutesSubstitutes1Ramsdale10Smith Rowe11Martinelli14Nketiah15Kiwior17Cédric Soares20Jorginho24Nelson76WaltersCrystal PalaceFormation 3-4-3
30Henderson26Richards16Andersen6GuéhiSubstituted forTomkinsat 87’minutes17ClyneSubstituted forAhamadaat 76’minutes8Lerma19HughesSubstituted forOzohat 68’minutes3Mitchell15SchluppSubstituted forFrança de Oliveiraat 76’minutes14Mateta10EzeSubstitutes1Johnstone5Tomkins11França de Oliveira22Édouard23Ebiowei29Ahamada44Riedewald45Adaramola52OzohReferee:Paul Tierney
Attendance:60,284
Match StatsLive TextMatch ends, Arsenal 5, Crystal Palace 0.
Second Half ends, Arsenal 5, Crystal Palace 0.
Goal! Arsenal 5, Crystal Palace 0. Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jorginho following a fast break.
Goal! Arsenal 4, Crystal Palace 0. Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Eddie Nketiah with a through ball following a fast break.
Attempt missed. Chris Richards (Crystal Palace) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Eberechi Eze with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Attempt saved. Oleksandr Zinchenko (Arsenal) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Substitution, Crystal Palace. James Tomkins replaces Marc Guéhi because of an injury.
William Saliba (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace).
Offside, Crystal Palace. Matheus França is caught offside.
Foul by Ben White (Arsenal).
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Arsenal. Jakub Kiwior replaces Gabriel Magalhães because of an injury.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution, Arsenal. Eddie Nketiah replaces Gabriel Jesus.
Delay in match because of an injury Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal).
Delay in match because of an injury Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace).
Foul by Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal).
Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
