132379702_gettyimages-1947447693.jpg

Arsenal 5-0 Crystal Palace: Gunners reignite title bid with win

Arsenal's Gabriel scores against Crystal Palace
Arsenal’s win ended a run of three straight defeats in all competitions

Arsenal 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, a 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.

‘Re-energised’ Arsenal show their title-chasing intent

Having 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 continues

Crystal Palace fans display a banner towards the end of the game at Arsenal
Crystal Palace fans directed their frustration at the club’s situation towards the owners

This 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.”

helpHow to play

Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.

Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection

Crystal Palace

  1. Squad number30Player nameHenderson

  2. Squad number26Player nameRichards

  3. Squad number16Player nameAndersen

  4. Squad number6Player nameGuéhi

  5. Squad number17Player nameClyne

  6. Squad number8Player nameLerma

  7. Squad number19Player nameHughes

  8. Squad number3Player nameMitchell

  9. Squad number15Player nameSchlupp

  10. Squad number14Player nameMateta

  11. Squad number10Player nameEze

  1. Squad number5Player nameTomkins

  2. Squad number11Player nameMatheus França

  3. Squad number29Player nameAhamada

  4. Squad number52Player nameOzoh

Line-ups

Arsenal

Formation 4-3-3

  • 22Raya
  • 4White
  • 2Saliba
  • 6GabrielSubstituted forKiwiorat 81′minutes
  • 35Zinchenko
  • 8Ødegaard
  • 41RiceSubstituted forJorginhoat 73′minutes
  • 29HavertzSubstituted forSmith Roweat 69′minutes
  • 7Saka
  • 9Gabriel JesusSubstituted forNketiahat 81′minutes
  • 19TrossardSubstituted forMartinelliat 69′minutes

Substitutes

  • 1Ramsdale
  • 10Smith Rowe
  • 11Martinelli
  • 14Nketiah
  • 15Kiwior
  • 17Cédric Soares
  • 20Jorginho
  • 24Nelson
  • 76Walters

Crystal Palace

Formation 3-4-3

  • 30Henderson
  • 26Richards
  • 16Andersen
  • 6GuéhiSubstituted forTomkinsat 87′minutes
  • 17ClyneSubstituted forAhamadaat 76′minutes
  • 8Lerma
  • 19HughesSubstituted forOzohat 68′minutes
  • 3Mitchell
  • 15SchluppSubstituted forFrança de Oliveiraat 76′minutes
  • 14Mateta
  • 10Eze

Substitutes

  • 1Johnstone
  • 5Tomkins
  • 11França de Oliveira
  • 22Édouard
  • 23Ebiowei
  • 29Ahamada
  • 44Riedewald
  • 45Adaramola
  • 52Ozoh

Referee:
Paul Tierney

Attendance:
60,284

Live Text



Source: BBC News

Previous Post
132380884_sturgeon.jpg
Blog

Covid Inquiry has my informal messages, says Sturgeon

Next Post
132378438_gettyimages-1938773511-1.jpg
Blog

Senior Iran Revolutionary Guard officials killed in strike blamed on Israel

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *