Seeking victory against Crystal Palace on Saturday to reignite their title fight, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal welcomed Roy Hodgson’s Eagles to Emirates Stadium for their first Premier League clash of 2024.
ARS: Raya; Zinchenko, Gabriel, Saliba, White; Havertz, Rice, Ødegaard; Trossard, Jesus, Saka
CRY: Henderson; Guéhi, Andersen, Richards; Mitchell, Hughes, Lerma, Clyne; Eze, Mateta, Schlupp
Having lost three of their final Premier League outings in 2023, victory on Saturday was nothing short of imperative if the Gunners were to cement themselves as serious candidates for the league title come May.
It took just eleven minutes for the opening goal to arrive, with Gabriel nodding home from a deep Declan Rice corner to fire the hosts into a well-deserved early lead at Emirates Stadium.
The defender’s contributions wouldn’t end there though, with the Brazilian involved once more as his headed effort ricocheted off the head of Dean Henderson and over the line to double Arsenal’s advantage before the half-time break.
Embed from Getty ImagesCrystal Palace never looked capable of providing a response, instead looking utterly dejected when Leandro Trossard found the back of the net after a one-on-one with Henderson to further add to the Eagles’ misery in North London.
Two injury-time strikes from Gabriel Martinelli completed the rout, as Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal comfortably swept aside a lethargic Crystal Palace side to move up to third in the Premier League standings.
Arsenal now sit two points behind Liverpool at the top of the table, ahead of a trip to Nottingham Forest’s City Ground in ten days’ time. For Crystal Palace, they remain in 14th and must look to find form when they host Sheffield United on January 30.
