Crystal Palace vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Gunners run riot with five goals
Crystal Palace 1-5 Arsenal: Mikel Arteta’s men stormed to victory to lay down a marker in the title race
Arsenal cruised to victory against Crystal Palace with a 5-1 win at Selhurst Park to keep their chances of winning the Premier League title well and truly alive.
Following their 3-2 loss to the Gunners in the Carabao Cup during the week, Palace started the match in an aggressive and well controlled way but they were undone once again by Gabriel Jesus.
The Arsenal man scored a hat-trick against the Eagles in the league cup and added two more on Saturday evening, either side of Ismaila Sarr’s consolation goal, to give Arsenal complete control of the game.
He could have had a third after heading an effort onto the post but the goal came when Kai Havertz turned in the rebound. Two more were added, by Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice in the second half, to secure a fine victory for the Gunners who put a touch of pressure on their rivals who play tomorrow.
Relive the action from Selhurst Park with our live blog below:
Bukayo Saka hands Arsenal major concern after hamstring injury against Crystal Palace
Bukayo Saka suffered a major injury scare after being forced off for Arsenal against Crystal Palace.
The England winger was left in real pain before being replaced by Leandro Trossard after 23 minutes.
The 23-year-old was seen sitting on the Selhurst Park turf and clutching the back of his right leg.
Bukayo Saka hands Arsenal major concern after hamstring injury against Crystal Palace
The England winger was forced off at Selhurst Park to hand Mikel Arteta a major concern ahead of the festive period
Crystal Palace 1-4 Arsenal
63 mins: The momentum and belief from Palace may have just been knocked out of them with that goal. They deserve more than the one goal for their spirited performance so far but Arsenal have been clinical.
It’s a big gap to comeback from now.
GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-4 Arsenal (Gabriel Martinelli, 60’)
Right on the hour mark Leandro Trossard makes a run in behind the lines and collects an aerial ball. He curls a low pass into the box and Gabriel Jesus finds the goalkeeper with his first time shot.
The ball deflects out to Declan Rice who drills a shot back into the box where Gabriel Martinelli is on hand to turn the ball home.
Crystal Palace 1-3 Arsenal
59 mins: It’s a double change for Arsenal with Riccardo Calafiori and Declan Rice coming on to replace Myles Lewis-Skelly and Kai Havertz.
That should bring a bit more stability to Arsenal’s defence now.
Crystal Palace 1-3 Arsenal
57 mins: The Palace fans are getting into this match now. Their team are quick to counter attack and Arsenal are giving them space to run through midfield when the ball is turned over.
Mikel Arteta is on the sidelines prepping some changes.
Crystal Palace 1-3 Arsenal
54 mins: Save! Double save!
Mateta smokes a shot at goal from range and the swerving nature of the shot causes a problem for David Raya who can only push the ball back into his own six-yard box.
Ismaila Sarr is there first and nods the ball at goal but Raya launches himself across to the right and clings onto the ball.
Crystal Palace 1-3 Arsenal
51 mins: Palace win a corner that takes a while to deliver after some argy bargy between Myles Lewsi-Skelly and Jean-Philippe Mateta.
When the set piece is sent into the box, Arsenal defend it easily. It was hardly worth all that effort.
Crystal Palace 1-3 Arsenal
48 mins: Close!
David Raya is forced into an early save after Palace whip a cross in from the right. Mateta wins the first header and glances it on to Sarr who nods the ball towards the near corner only for Raya to drop to his right and push the ball clear.
Second half! Crystal Palace 1-3 Arsenal
No changes from either manager at the break as Crystal Palace get the ball rolling once again at Selhurst Park.
Resigned Pep Guardiola signals the complete breakdown of all-conquering Man City
An obsessive Spanish manager had taken his adopted club to rare heights. Then came a chastening spell of 11 games, littered with setbacks, sending his team tumbling down the table, bringing their ambitions into question. But this victory was emphatic and impressive, offering relief and respite. A slump may be over.
But not for Pep Guardiola. Because, for Unai Emery and Aston Villa, Manchester City came to town. They were duly and deservedly beaten. Second best in the Second City, they suffered their ninth defeat in 12 matches. Villa had lost six in 11 since they went top of the Champions League.
Like City, they had conceded a quickfire double to conjure defeat when they could have won last week. But in a battle of the beleaguered, City lost. Now they always do. It is their strange new normality. For Guardiola, it doesn’t get better. It just gets worse. It wouldn’t be a weekend without someone chanting “sacked in the morning” at him and he heard a familiar song
Resigned Pep Guardiola signals the complete breakdown of all-conquering Man City
Aston Villa 2-1 Manchester City: Guardiola spent the second half with his hands in his pockets, appearing to accept defeat, as the champions plummeted to another low
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