Arsenal reignite title bid with dominant victory over Crystal Palace

Arsenal reignited their Premier League title challenge by thrashing struggling Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal’s bid for supremacy wavered in the closing months of last year, suffering defeats in three of their previous five Premier League matches.

However, following a rejuvenating week-long winter break in Dubai, Mikel Arteta’s squad bounced back with renewed energy, securing three points through a Gabriel header, a Dean Henderson own goal, a Leandro Trossard finish, and two late strikes from Gabriel Martinelli.

The initial two goals were the result of corner kicks. The opening goal occurred in the 11th minute when Gabriel headed the ball in, and shortly after, the defender’s header from another set-piece struck Crystal Palace goalkeeper Henderson, deflecting into the back of the net.

The visitors failed to mount a significant response. Instead, Arsenal extended their lead in the second half when Trossard found himself in a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper, maintaining composure to finish confidently.

With Crystal Palace already facing a significant deficit, Martinelli added a touch of brilliance to the victory with two injury-time goals, both elegantly placed into the far corner.

The triumph propels Arsenal to third place, trailing leaders Liverpool by two points but having played one more game than Jurgen Klopp’s side. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace remains in 14th position in the table.

‘Re-energised’ Arsenal show their title-chasing intent

After witnessing their title aspirations fade in the concluding stages of the previous season, Arsenal fans were understandably apprehensive about their team’s downturn in form towards the end of 2023.

The team secured only one victory in their last five league games of the year, narrowly overcoming Brighton, while succumbing to defeats against Aston Villa, West Ham, and Fulham.

A major concern for Arsenal was their difficulty in scoring during that period, struggling to convert the chances they created.

However, Mikel Arteta reassured that his squad had returned re-energized from their winter break, a claim substantiated by their impressive performance in this significant win.

They capitalized on the opportunities they generated, converting from set-piece situations, and Trossard’s goal along with Martinelli’s two late strikes demonstrated the clinical composure that had been lacking in the Gunners’ attack in recent times.

Palace fans make their feelings known as slump continues

This proved to be a formidable challenge for a Palace team coping with the absence of several key players due to injuries and international duty. However, manager Roy Hodgson is likely to have been dismayed by the limited attacking threat his team posed.

Hodgson had urged his players to “pose questions” to Arsenal with the few chances they would create, but they fell short of that directive, seldom threatening and relying mostly on shots from a distance.

One positive aspect for the visitors was the standout performance of Eberechi Eze. The midfielder, marking his 100th Premier League appearance for the Eagles, stood out as their top player and had their best opportunity with a free-kick that David Raya tipped over.

Palace’s recent Premier League form is cause for concern, having won just one of their last 11 games. Their position in the table is becoming increasingly precarious, currently sitting in 14th place, five points clear of the relegation zone but having played one more game than 18th-placed Luton.