Arsenal 5-0 Crystal Palace: Gunners Get Their Groove Back

Match Report – Match Highlights – Post-Match Press Conference

Final Result: Arsenal 5-0 Crystal Palace (Gabriel 11′, Henderson OG 37′, Trossard 59′, Martinelli 94′, 96′)

Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Raya; Zinchenko, Saliba, Gabriel (Kiwior 81′), White; Rice (Jorginho 73′), Odegaard, Havertz (Smith Rowe 69?); Trossard (Martinelli 69′), Saka, G. Jesus (Nketiah 81′)

Following three losses on the bounce, which included a FA Cup elimination, it was all doom and gloom for everyone connected with Arsenal. However, some warm weather training in Dubai gave the lads a chance to recharge their batteries ahead of a clash with Crystal Palace, a team that had struggled badly this season with just one win in their last 11 matches. 

Arsenal dominated Crystal Palace from the get go and opened the scoring when Gabriel evaded his marker in the box to score his 12th goal in his fourth season at Arsenal, making him the undisputed scoring central defender in the Premier League. His scoring prowess, especially from set pieces, has been exemplary and his early goal set the tone for how the game panned out.

It was almost two when Bukayo Saka’s inswinging corner led to a goalmouth scramble that saw the ball ricochet off Jefferson Lerma onto Dean Henderson’s post, but on second viewing, it looked like the Crystal Palace keeper had it covered. With Arsenal on the ascendancy, the passing play became very intricate, but it led to some over confidence as David Raya received a routine pass from William Saliba and passed it straight to Lerma. The Colombian midfielder smashed a goal bound shot for good measure, but Raya was on hand to atone for his mistake with a good save. 

On the other end of the pitch, things got worse for Crystal Palace, as Saka’s corner was attacked by Gabriel again, but his header went into the net after the ball clattered off Henderson’s head. Going into the break with two goals to the good was great for morale and the Gunners had to capitalize against a Crystal Palace side bereft of confidence.

Early in the second half, Eberechi Eze fashioned a chance for himself with a swift shot, but Raya made a good save. Raya was also instrumental in the third goal as he smothered a Will Hughes cross from a corner and sent Gabriel Jesus into space with an unreal long throw, making it two on one. Jesus unselfishly found Leandro Trossard on the edge of the area, who took one touch before smashing it past Henderson to make it 3-0.

As expected, the substitutions started pouring in with Emile Smith Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli joining the party, while Jorginho came on for Declan Rice that was believed to have picked up a knock. Late on, Eddie Nketiah came on for Jesus, who recently returned from injury, and Gabriel limped off and had to be replaced by Jakub Kiwior.

However, Arsenal wasn’t done with scoring. Just like the goal against Brighton, Nketiah passed the ball into space for Martinelli that used his pace to evade his marker before side-footing the ball past Henderson to make it four. Moments later, Martinelli latched onto Jorginho’s beautiful cross-field pass and repeated the same sequence of placing the ball past Henderson to make it five.

It was beautiful. 

This was the response the fans expected and the players came through. Good to see that they got their groove back.

Sayonara.

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