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STEVE BRUCE suffered a Blue Monday as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang finally rediscovered his old Arsenal spring.
The out of touch Gunners skipper wheeled out his trademark somersault to celebrate his stunning 49th minute strike.

Arsenal went tenth after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit a brace on Monday nightCredit: Eddie Keogh Telegraph Media Group

Steve Bruce was left to answer another lacklustre performance from his Newcastle teamCredit: PA:Press Association

He struck again to make sure of Arsenal’s return to the top half of the table after another beautifully crafted goal from Bukayo Saka had knocked the stuffing out of the visitors.
But for the long-suffering Newcastle boss it was another miserable trip to North London on the most depressing day of the year.
Bruce admitted that he had picked the wrong team last week when he became the first manager this season to lose a Premier League game to Sheffield United.
It was a performance he described as “absolute s***e” and one which left him wide open to the criticism which predictably followed.

Yet still no-one expected him to be quite so bold at a ground where he had never won in 17 previous visits as a boss.
Just about every attacking player available to him was named in the starting line-up as Bruce went completely gung-ho.
Yet it still wasn’t enough to halt a disturbing run of nine games without a victory which leaves Newcastle looking anxiously at the relegation zone.
They still have a seven-point cushion to the bottom three but nothing Bruce tries appears to be working and you wonder just how much more of this he can take.

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It wasn’t even as if they went down with all guns blazing as they failed to trouble Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno all evening despite their attacking intentions.
In fact it was all too easy for an Arsenal team who haven’t exactly been in scintillating form themselves this season.
And all Bruce’s experimental formation achieved was to hand the Gunners a numerical advantage in the middle of the park, where the returning Thomas Partey was given free rein to run the show.
The big Ghanaian relished the time he was getting on the ball to control the play and take full advantage of the willing runs of young team-mates Saka and Emile Smith Rowe.
It was those junior Gunners who combined to carve out the first decent chance of the game when Smith Rowe played in Saka for a low 15th minute shot.
Keeper Karl Darlow was able to block with an outstretched leg but should have had no chance with the follow-up from the lurking Aubameyang.
But with the goal at his mercy the Arsenal skipper shot against the far post when it seemed easier to score.
Another decent opportunity went begging for Aubameyang when he cleared the bar with a first-time effort after Partey and Smith Rowe had caught Newcastle out with a quick counter-attack.

Aubameyang added to a strike past Newcastle in the FA Cup to end his barren runCredit: Reuters

The striker made amends after missing an early sitter at Emirates StadiumCredit: Eddie Keogh Telegraph Media Group
But there is no better remedy for a goal drought than a visit from a Newcastle team who have now lost 15 of their last 16 League games against the Gunners and were also beaten here in the FA Cup third round ten days ago.
And Aubameyang was able to shrug off those earlier misses when he was released by Partey’s raking long pass before sweeping past Emil Krafth and hammering into the roof of the net.
It was a carbon copy of his Community Shield strike against Liverpool and another in the opening day win at Fulham.
Now Mikel Arteta will be hoping that his superstar striker is back in the groove and ready to lead the Arsenal fightback.

Bukayo Saka continued his fine run with the second goalCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Arsenal are now six games unbeaten after a positive festive periodCredit: Eddie Keogh Telegraph Media Group

It was Aubameyang’s 61st minute pass to the impressive Smith Rowe which teed up Saka for the goal which left Bruce deflated and defeated.
And he was perfectly placed to sidefoot home 13 minutes from time after Cedric’s pull-back was cleared by VAR after appearing to cross the goal-line.
Nothing is going right for Bruce right now. No wonder he looks so down in the dumps.
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JAMIE REDKNAPP was left singing the tune of Bad Boys to cap off his analysis of Arsenal’s bore draw with Crystal Palace.
Thursday night’s mid-table stalemate saw neither side able to snatch a winner at a freezing Emirates Stadium.

And, as Sky Sports’ coverage signed off, former midfielder Redknapp produced a hilarious summary.
Host Kelly Cates reminded viewers that the film Bad Boys For Life was available, prompting her colleague to make up his own spin on the iconic theme song.
Redknapp – who was married to pop star Louise for 19 years – sang out: “Bad game, bad game. Whatcha gonna do when it’s not 3-2!?”
Redknapp and Cates, along with fellow pundit Alex Scott, burst into laughter in the studio.

Cates jokingly told the ex-Tottenham man to ‘just stop’ before promising him ‘a cup of tea and a sit down’.
Scott remarked that Redknapp had been reduced to the tune by the drab draw, telling him: “That’s what that game has done to you.”
But Redknapp doubled down, telling Cates: “C’mon Kel that was meant to be your line.
“That was a poor game, I’m sorry.”

Jamie Redknapp produced a hilarious ditty to round off Sky’s showCredit: PA:Press Association

Arsenal and Crystal Palace failed to set pulses racing on Thursday nightCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Palace travelled back across the capital unbeaten in their last five encounters with Arsenal.
James Tomkins hit the bar before Bernd Leno athletically denied Christian Benteke’s header.
Roy Hodgson’s side remained in 13th, two places and a point behind Arsenal.
The Gunners stretched their undefeated run to five games, with four clean sheets in a row.
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ARSENAL captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has struggled to keep smiling during his worst form in ten years.
The superstar striker has managed just three Premier League goals all season and admits that his performances so far have left a lot to be desired.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang admits he is ‘strugging a lot’ with his formCredit: Reuters

And he reveals that it has been difficult for him to lift flagging spirits in the dressing room when he has not exactly been leading by example.
He told Sky Sports: “I have struggled a lot since the start of the season and sometimes it’s difficult to be as positive as you can be.
“I try to be a cool and calm leader in the dressing room but maybe there are times when you are not in the right mood.
“But you have to find a way to change that so you can give the right vibes for the rest of the guys.

“In football you have ups and downs so you try your best to manage it as well as you can.
“My performances until now have not been the best but I still think I can turn this around and that is what I am trying to do with the team.”
Aubameyang, 31, has scored 76 goals in just 126 appearances for Arsenal since his £56million move from Borussia Dortmund three years ago.
Now he is hoping that his extra-time strike in Saturday’s FA Cup win against Newcastle will prove a turning point against Crystal Palace on Thursday.

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Aubameyang has failed to find the net regularly since signing his new dealCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

The Gunners are looking to make it five wins in a row and Aubameyang says: “We are playing well at the moment and we have to keep on this way.
“If we win the next couple of games that are coming up we can turn the situation around.
“We are not so far from the top six so this is the moment to get back into the competition.”
Arsenal could be boosted by the return of Thomas Partey, who has managed just 279 minutes of Premier League football since his £45m summer move from Atletico Madrid.
The Ghanaian international has finally recovered from a persistent thigh strain and manager Mikel Arteta can’t wait to unleash his midfield powerhouse.

He says: “It’s incredible that we are in January and Thomas has played so few games for us so we haven’t really seen the impact that he can have on our team.
“Obviously we’ve missed him because his presence brings something different to the side.
“It’s just not about his talent or his physicality, it’s who he is a person. He makes the players around him better and that’s a big quality.
“It’s been a difficult few months for him because he knows how much he can help the team and feels a big responsibility that he hasn’t been able to do that yet.
“He’s so willing and keen to be part of things but he’s had to deal with the injuries, with the lockdown and moving to a new country.
“He wanted to do everything straight away and maybe he was rushing too much because he didn’t want to be alone at home.
“But now he’s in a really good place, he’s settled in with the dressing room and the staff and hopefully now we can see his special character on the pitch.”
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MIKEL ARTETA could be handed a triple fitness boost for Arsenal’s clash with Crystal Palace on Thursday.
The Gunners hope to have Gabriel Magalhaes, Thomas Partey and Gabriel Martinelli back for the Emirates Stadium clash.

How we expect Arsenal to line up against Crystal Palace

Gabriel Magalhaes is fit to start after overcoming coronavirusCredit: PA:Press Association

Palace are unbeaten in the last four meetings between the sides but Arteta’s team enter the game on fine form.
With four wins in a row, Arsenal also have three consecutive clean sheets following an extra-time victory over Newcastle in the FA Cup.
Pablo Mari has played every minute of the purple patch and yet faces a nervous wait before Arteta names his team, with Gabriel Magalhaes’ availability confirmed by the club.
The Brazilian may return at centre-back, having overcome a bout of coronavirus.

In midfield, Partey is back in full training after recovering from a thigh problem.
Arteta is set to make a late call on the Ghanaian’s involvement, given he has only managed one appearance since November 8.

An alternative setup if Gabriel Martinelli is fit but Thomas Partey misses the match
Dani Ceballos and Mohamed Elneny will compete for the central midfield spot alongside Granit Xhaka if Partey does not make the line-up.
Emile Smith Rowe should stay in the XI amid a hugely impressive spell in the side, featuring the winner past Newcastle on Saturday.

Bukayo Saka and Alexandre Lacazette are two other forwards in fine form and Arteta will likely deploy both men alongside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on Thursday.

Arsenal are monitoring Martinelli’s fitness following an ankle injury that the striker sustained in the warm-up last time out.
The setback was particularly galling for a player who had only just returned from a long-term knee injury.
The Gunners state that he has ‘progressed very well’ during the week but is yet to return to full training, making an appearance versus Palace unlikely.
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