ARSENAL were ANIHILATED by Crystal Palace who completely embarrassed them with a 3-0 score-line at Selhurst Park.
Goals from Mateta, Ayew and Zaha left the Gunners stunned – blowing the top four race wide open.
- Result: Palace 3-0 Arsenal
- TV/Live stream: Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League
- Crystal Palace XI: Guita; Clyne, Guehi, Andersen, Mitchell; Kouyate, Schlupp Gallagher; Ayew, Mateta, Zaha
- Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; Cedric, White, Gabriel, Tavares; Partey, Xhaka; Saka, Odegaard, Smith Rowe; Lacazette
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Signing off from Selhurst Park
That’s all from us in south London on what has been a wonderful night for Crystal Palace – but a major setback for Arsenal, and their hopes of landing Champions League football.
The Gunners will need to regroup for the challenge ahead, and perhaps they’d do well to take in the action over the next two nights for a glimpse of what’s in their grasp.
We return tomorrow for the Champions League quarter-finals with live coverage of Liverpool’s trip to Benfica, and Manchester City’s home match with Atletico Madrid.
Be sure to join us for all the drama, but until then, thanks for joining us and goodnight.
Extra! Read all about it!
Before we sign off for this evening, why not recap on what we’ve seen at Selhurst Park with Mark Irwin’s match report of Arsenal’s 3-0 defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace.
Arsenal fear that history is about to repeat itself after another Crystal Palace mauling threatens to throw a spanner into their top four dreams. Mikel Arteta could have absolutely no complaints about this setback after watching his team comprehensively outplayed by the high-flying Eagles. If only they still had a warrior like Patrick Vieira to fight their cause when the going gets tough.
Zaha gives Gunners the runaround
Wilfried Zaha won his fitness battle to feature on Monday night, and wasted no time in tormenting a beleaguered Arsenal backline.
The Ivorian had too much pace, power and skill for Cedric in the first half, and topped his performance off by winning and then scoring a second half penalty.
- Attempts: 1
- Goals: 1
- Most duels in game: 19
- Most duels won in game: 11
- Most dribbles in game: 5
- Touches in opposition box: 4
- Penalties won: 1
Honest Arteta apologises to fans.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has admitted that his side were well second best Selhurst Park, and refused to hide from any criticism coming his or his team’s way.
Congratulations to Crystal Palace for the game they played, but we made it impossible for ourselves the way we competed.
You have to compete at this ground, you have to be physical, you have to win first and second balls, and then you earn the right to play. When we did earn it a little bit, we were really poor and inconsistent on the ball. At this level, it’s unacceptable.
I apologise to our supporters, and we take the challenge now.
First of all, we have to put our hand up and take the criticism we deserve, accept it, and tomorrow we start to prepare for the next game knowing that this is not good enough for this club.
Mikel Arteta
Gunners suffer seven-goal swing
How pivotal will this weekend be come the end of the season?
Arsenal appeared to have all the momentum in the race to claim fourth spot coming into April, but their crushing defeat tonight coupled with Spurs thumping of Newcastle yesterday has turned the tide.
The Gunners still have a game in hand on their rivals, but their superior goal difference has evaporated following a seven-goal swing.
Meanwhile, the Eagles have soared into the top half in what continues to be an eye-catching first season under Patrick Vieira’s management.
Match facts from Selhurst Park
The takeaway fact from tonight’s match is that there were just two corners awarded in the 90 minutes – the joint-fewest in a Premier League game this season.
That, and Arsenal were as bad as they ever have been under Mikel Arteta.
Full time – Crystal Palace 3-0 Arsenal
It’s all over – although that could have been said after 24 minutes.
Crystal Palace have cruised to victory at Selhurst Park courtesy of goals from Jean-Philippe Mateta, Jordan Ayew and a Wilfried Zaha penalty.
Arsenal were slightly better in the second half than their abysmal showing in the first, but they will have much to ponder as they regroup for the challenge ahead.
The fallout from this one will be focused on the Gunners, but the Eagles were excellent and this night belongs to them.
Crystal Palace 3-0 Arsenal
90+2. Granit Xhaka fires a speculative 30-yarder into the stands.
Hmmm. I might know who Arteta is annoyed with after all.
Crystal Palace 3-0 Arsenal
90. The board goes up to signal three minutes of stoppage time, and that’s enough to spark one last chant from the home fans in the Holmesdale End.
Crystal Palace 3-0 Arsenal
88. On the touchline, Mikel Arteta has a face like thunder.
I’m not sure who he’s annoyed at, if anyone in particular, but his post-match interview could be revealing.
Crystal Palace 3-0 Arsenal
86. A low strike from Xhaka now, one comfortably leapt on by Guaita.
If the first half was an electrifying performance from the Eagles, the second period has shown that they can execute a defensive rearguard too.
Crystal Palace 3-0 Arsenal
84. Off the crossbar!
Nketiah has looked lively since his introduction, which may put him in the shop window if nothing else.
He goes close to pulling one back with a beauty, his curling effort from 25 yards swerves on to the frame of the goal before bouncing to safety.
Crystal Palace 3-0 Arsenal
83. Arsenal are throwing everything at Crystal Palace now, and it all seems a little late in the day.
Crystal Palace 3-0 Arsenal – Xhaka yellow card.
82. Oh, Granit Xhaka got booked and nobody told me.
Crystal Palace 3-0 Arsenal
80. Tremendous block by Guehi!
An Arsenal consolation looks a certainty when Guaita parries Saka’s shot into the path of Smith Rowe 15 yards from goal.
The attacking midfielder does nothing wrong either, putting his laces through the ball – only for the Palace centre-half to somehow throw himself in the way of the shot and divert it away.
Guehi celebrates as if he scored the winner. Absolutely brilliant!
Crystal Palace 3-0 Arsenal
78. Co-incidentally, that’s the third time in his career that Zaha has won a penalty against Arsenal. No player has been awarded more against the Gunners in Premier League history.
Crystal Palace 3-0 Arsenal – Arsenal substitution
76. Seconds before Zaha was brought down, Partey had indicated to the bench that he was injured and couldn’t continue.
The Ghanaian has now gone off, and has been replaced Albert Sambi Lokonga.
Crystal Palace 3-0 Arsenal
74. Game, set and match, Crystal Palace!
Arsenal have missed a couple of big chances in the second half, and now they’ve been made to pay.
Wilfried Zaha escaped on the counter with Arsenal players hot in pursuit, and when he cut back inside, Martin Odegaard dangled out a leg.
Contact was enough to take Zaha to ground in front of referee Paul Tierney, who took a long look before pointing to the penalty spot.
The forward picked himself up, dusted himself down, and then emphatically tucked home the penalty by sending Aaron Ramsdale the wrong way.
A special night at Selhurst Park!
Goal! Wilfried Zaha scores from the spot!
Odegaard brings down Zaha! Penalty!
Crystal Palace 2-0 Arsenal – Palace substitution
69. The Eagles make their first change, and it’s a defensive one.
After opening the scoring, Jean-Philippe Mateta’s race is run, and on in his place is James McArthur .
Let’s see if Arsenal have forgiven the Scottish sub from launching Saka into orbit in this season’s reverse fixture.
Crystal Palace 2-0 Arsenal
67. Arsenal pass up another opportunity!
Nketiah is involved immediately, taking Smith Rowe’s pass in his stride and crossing low from the left for Odegaard.
The Norwegian has time to set himself, but takes his eye off the ball and scuffs wide.
Crystal Palace 2-0 Arsenal – Arsenal substitution
66. A second change for the Gunners as striker Eddie Nketiah comes on for Cedric.
Who needs full-backs anyway?
Crystal Palace 2-0 Arsenal
65. Arsenal have already been dealt one knee blow today, and this could be another.
Martinelli has taken a hefty whack following a clash of legs with Kouyate.
Fortunately, it looks more of an impact injury, and he should be able to run this off.
Crystal Palace 2-0 Arsenal
63. A big chance for Emile Smith Rowe!
Palace switch off for the first time this evening, and it presents Arsenal with a big opportunity to get back into this game.
Lacazette’s attempt to bundle his way into the box are partially seen off, but the ball falls invitingly for Smith Rowe.
Eight yards out, and just the goalkeeper to beat, the Arsenal man fires straight at Guaita.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
