ARSENAL have gone EIGHT points clear at the top of the Premier League after beating Crystal Palace 4-1.
Gabriel Martinelli – who missed a penalty in the Europa League exit during the week – opened the scoring for the Gunners.
And Bukayo Saka helped himself to a stunning double.
Granit Xhaka was also on target for the Gunners who extended their lead with Man City in FA Cup action this weekend.
- Result: Arsenal 4 Crystal Palace 1
- Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Trossard
- Crystal Palace XI: Whitworth. Ward, Guehi, Tomkins, Mitchell, Milivojevic, Doucoure, Schlupp, Olise, Zaha, Edouard
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Arsenal 4-1 Crystal Palace
Saka’s clinical brace guided Arsenal eight points clear at the top of the table.
Martinelli opened the scoring after skipping past his defender to arrow a shot into the bottom corner before Saka coolly slotted home to double the lead shortly after.
Xhaka then made it three shortly after the interval.
Palace threatened to mount a comeback when Schlupp lashed a goal home from a corner.
But it proved to be nothing but a consolation as Saka restored the three-goal cushion.
The win puts them eight ahead of Man City, while Palace remain deep in trouble, with no post-manager bounce after Vieira’s sacking earlier this week.
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FULL-TIME Arsenal 4-1 Crystal Palace
Arsenal 4-1 Crystal Palace
90+4. End to end stuff at the moment.
Palace break away again with Arsenal’s defence nowhere to be seen.
The ball goes through to Eze who shoots towards the bottom corner, but Ramsdale is equal to the effort.
Arsenal 4-1 Crystal Palace
90+1. Zaha gets in behind the Arsenal defence and has a great chance to score, but fails to even get a shot away as he is quickly closed down.
He then plays in Ayew with a back heel but he can’t get a shot away in time either and is also closed out.
Arsenal 4-1 Crystal Palace
88. Small scuffle between Zaha and Holding after Holding pushes Zaha to the ground, conceding a free-kick.
Tomkins gets his foot on the end of the set-piece but the ball rolls harmlessly into Ramsdale’s hands.
Arsenal 4-1 Crystal Palace
86. Kiwior comes on for his Premier League debut.
He replaces Gabriel at the heart of Arsenal’s defence.
Arsenal 4-1 Crystal Palace
85. Arsenal in complete control at the moment.
Arsenal 4-1 Crystal Palace
82. More subs now.
Olise and Sclupp are hooked by Palace for Eze and Ahamada.
Meanwhile, Arsenal make two changes as well with White and Martinelli taken off for Smith Rowe and Jorginho.
Arsenal 4-1 Crystal Palace
80. Jesus goes down in the area under pressure from two Palace defenders after being played in.
But ref Stuart Atwell waves play on as Jesus seems to slip before going over.
Arsenal 4-1 Crystal Palace
76. Palace are given a free-kick on the edge of the Arsenal box after a foul by Xhaka.
However, it amounts to nothing as Olise’s shot hits the wall.
Arsenal 4-1 Crystal Palace
74. Tierney grabs an assist as he controls the ball and plays in Saka on the edge of the area who whips the ball into the bottom corner with a first-time effort.
A VAR check confirms the goal with no offside offence from Jesus.
Goal – 4-1 to Arsenal
74. Saka restores the three-goal cushion.
Arsenal 3-1 Crystal Palace
72. So close for Palace.
Zaha is played in by Schlupp and manages to squeeze a shot at goal from a tight angle.
He strikes the ball well but his effort goes agonisingly wide of the far post.
Arsenal 3-1 Crystal Palace
65. Subs for both teams.
Jesus and Tierney are introduced for Trossard and Zinchenko.
While Palace hook Edouard and Milivojevic for Ayew and Will Hughes.
Arsenal 3-1 Crystal Palace
64. Olise whips a corner in and Arsenal fail to clear the danger as the ball goes through to Schlupp.
He then fires the ball past Ramsdale as Gabriel almost rips the shirt off his back.
A VAR check for handball ensues, but the goal stands.
Goal Arsenal 3-1 Crystal Palace
63. Schlupp pulls one back for Palace
Arsenal 3-0 Crystal Palace
62. Another spell on the ball for Palace ends with Arsenal picking up the ball in midfield.
The Eagles have lacked control and quality in build up all game.
Arsenal 3-0 Crystal Palace
60. Arsenal are moving the ball with swagger and purpose.
They look able to carve open this Palace defence with ease.
Arsenal 3-0 Crystal Palace
57. Arsenal fans are in full voice now.
And they’re singing about recently sacked Palace boss Vieira.
Arsenal 3-0 Crystal Palace
55. Xhaka is played in after a run into the penalty area and makes no mistake from close range to put Arsenal three goals up.
Replays reveal a bit of fortune to the shot with a Palace defender helping give the ball some lift, but the Gunners will not care one bit.
Goal – 3-0 to Arsenal
55. Xhaka makes it three.
Arsenal 2-0 Crystal Palace
53. Zaha trying to make something happen.
Once again he is on the ball in the penalty area but has no way through with Arsenal triple-teaming him.
But he manages to work some space and laser a shot at goal which Ramsdale is able to save.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
