Palace show class as Arsenal’s top four ambitions stutter

Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace produced a dominant performance to halt Arsenal progress towards Champions League qualification.

Jean-Philippe Mateta provided a constant target for Palace throughout the fixture and troubled Gabriel in the opening five minutes by backing into him and collecting forwarded passes.

The Brazilian consequently suffered a few loose touches as the Selhurst Park crowd sung loudly on a chilly Monday evening in south London.

Conor Gallagher’s impressive season for the Eagles prompted his song to be first rung around SE19 and the midfielder’s usual mix of technique and determination provided the platform for a positive start for the home side.

It would be Gallagher and Mateta who would be combine for the opening goal. After Ben White fouled Wilfried Zaha, Gallagher’s delivery was kept alive by Joachim Andersen at the back post who found an unmarked Mateta in the area to head home past Aaron Ramsdale.

The French striker’s chant from the Palace fans to the tune of the Venga Boys’ ‘Boom Boom Boom’ was next on the Palace playlist as Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal failed to get a foothold in the game.

A Monday night wouldn’t have been the preferred time to play Palace for Arsenal as the Selhurst atmosphere continued to lift Palace.

After his assist for the first goal, Joachim Andersen provided another from centre-back when threading a perfect pass into the feet of Jordan Ayew.

The Ghanian striker, questioned in the lead up to kick-off with many Palace fans preferring Eberechi Eze to start, took the ball away from a sliding Gabriel  and covering Nuno Tavares to slot past Ramsdale to double the lead.

An inventive free-kick routine from Gallagher set Zaha away down the line but his pull back was blocked by Tavares. Palace’s hunger to create further chances was evident despite their two-goal advantage with Mateta’s shot clumsily parried by Ramsdale minutes later, thankfully for the England ‘keeper the rebound falling to an Arsenal player.

A tame Arsenal header from the first corner of the match would end the half withArteta surely demanding more of his players in the second half.

Gabriel Martinelli replaced Nuno Tavares at half time for the Gunners as Granit Xhaka slotted into an unfamiliar left-back position. The change prompted Arsenal’s best spell of possession in the game with Palace happy to sit off and wait for opportunities on the counter.

Bukayo Saka weaved his way into the area early into the second half but his claims for a penalty after a challenge from Cheikhou Kouyaté were waved away from Paul Tierney. A fantastic run by Jeffrey Schlupp at the other end brought the first card of the afternoon when he was swiped down by Thomas Partey.

Zaha clearly relished the challenge of facing up against Cedric Soares but the Portuguese full-back defended valiantly when the winger found good positions within the box.

Emile Smith-Rowe was presented with an opportunity to half the deficit for the Gunners but when the ball broke kindly to him within the area, the England international could only roll an effort into the hands of Vicente Guaita.

It took 65 minutes for Arsenal to create a real opening, Martin Odegaard only scuffing a shot wide when the ball was pulled back to him by Saka.

Arteta had decided that the time for attacking reinforcements was now as Cedric’s departure for Eddie Nketiah left central defenders Gabriel and Ben White as the only recognised Arsenal defenders on the pitch.

The substitutions were always going to leave gaps for Palace’s attackers and when Partey’s loose touch allowed Zaha the space to run at the defence, the Ivorian made no mistake.

Twisting and turning his way into the area, Zaha checked back only for Odegaard to sweep his standing leg away and leaving Paul Tierney with the task of pointing to the penalty spot. He would make no mistake from the spot, sending Ramsdale the wrong way to make it 3-0 to Palace.

A mixture of Guaita and Marc Guehi denied Saka and then Smith Rowe as the visitors continued to search for a way back into the game with 10 minutes remaining.

Nketiah’s effort from outside the box smashed against the crossbar but Palace’s dominance on the scoreline meant any Arsenal resurgence was unlikely.

Patrick Vieira’s team had confidently dispatched of the Premier League’s fourth placed team and inadvertently helped his former adversaries Tottenham in the process.

The Gunners sit fifth on level points with their north London rivals but with a game in hand. Palace leapfrog Southampton, Aston Villa and Leicester with the victory into ninth.

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