Arsenal vs Crystal Palace - as it happened: Olivier Giroud shines as Gunners take all three points
Re-live all the action from the Emirates
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal welcome Crystal Palace to the Emirates Stadium in New Year’s Day’s second London derby knowing that victory will leapfrog them above Manchester City into third.
The Gunners ended their run of back-to-back defeats to Everton and Manchester City last time out by beating West Brom 1-0 on Boxing Day.
Palace are on a terrible run of form with the draw against Watford last time out their first point in six games, having lost all five of their previous six.
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New Year’s Eve Premier League results:
Burnley 4-1 Sunderland
Chelsea 4-2 Stoke
Leicester City 1-0 West Ham
Manchester United 2-1 Middlesbrough
Southampton 1-2 West Brom
Swansea 0-3 Bournemouth
Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City
47 mins: Oh my goodness what a chance for Palace! Townsend sends in a cross from the right and Benteke thunders in at the back post, climbs above Bellerin but his header is weak, bounces across goal and wide. He should have scored.
48 mins: Back at the other end Arsenal go close again as Palace fail to deal with a corner and the ball falls to Sanchez who shoots but his effort is blocked. A very open start to the second half.
50 mins: Arsenal might still be on top but that chance for Benteke will be a lift for Palace. If they can get a few more deliveries up to the big man they might just get some joy.
52 mins: A mini keep-ball session from Arsenal ends when Sanchez gives it away. They do like to over-elaborate.
54 mins: Back to the pattern of the first half as Arsenal spray the ball around and Palace can hardly get a touch. Again, though, Arsenal's build-up comes to nothing as Perez's cross goes straight out of play.
GOAL - Iwobi
That should do for Palace. Sanchez plays in Bellerin and his low cross loops up off a defender, and when it comes down Iwobi nods it towards goal. Ward tries to clear but only helps it in off the underside of the crossbar. A scrappy, mess of a goal for Palace to concede but Arsenal thoroughly deserve it.
58 mins: Close for Palace as Benteke heads down from a corner and Cech saves. Then Cabaye leathers in a volley - Cech saves again.
61 mins: Now Townsend smashes in a shot that Cech beats away. Signs of life from Palace at last. Three saves from Cech in the space of a minute.
64 mins: Townsend is causing Arsenal a few problems down their left wing. This time he goes close with an inswinging cross that misses everyone and is heading for the bottom corner until Cech scrambles it away.
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