Premier League leaders Arsenal defeated managerless Crystal Palace 4-1 at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday to increase their advantage over second-placed Manchester City to eight points.
After a 12-game losing streak, Palace fired manager Patrick Vieira on Thursday. Interim manager Paddy McCarthy was unable to turn around the team’s fortunes as Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka scored in the first half before Granit Xhaka extended Mikel Arteta’s side’s advantage early in the second. Jeffrey Schlupp scored in the 63rd minute, but Palace were unable to capitalise, and Saka later scored to seal the win.
Arteta told Sky Sports that he was “very happy” with the effort, tenacity, and control of the game that his team displayed. After playing 120 minutes the previous week, it was challenging. The squad responded magnificently, and the audience was once again loud.
After being spotted by Saka’s seeking pass, Martinelli scored the game’s first goal on minute 28. The Brazil international eluded Joel Ward and sent a shot past Joe Whitworth and into the far corner.
We needed the victory, and Martinelli said, “Very delighted, we approach the games like a final, and we accomplished that today.
Saka’s assist ensured the 21-year-old became the first Premier League player to achieve double digits in both goals and assists this season.
In the 43rd minute, he extended the lead held by the league’s top team with a straightforward finish into the bottom corner after Ben White had passed him in down the right.
Ten minutes after the break, Xhaka scored Arsenal’s 13th goal in their previous four league games. Leandro Trossard, who contributed three assists in Arsenal’s 3-0 victory against Fulham last week, came through once more as he dribbled past Granit Xhaka and bundled the ball in at the near post.
In 63 minutes, Schlupp gave Palace a chance to win when he pushed the ball home after Arsenal mishandled a corner. Nevertheless, the away team was unable to build a comeback and suffered their fourth consecutive loss.
After Saka scored his 12th league goal of the season in the 74th minute from a cross from Kieran Tierney, Arteta’s team ensured that Palace had no chance of coming back.
“Even when we fell apart, we were still able to produce quickly. But this is top-notch competition,” McCarthy, the Palace’s temporary manager, stated. They are ranked first for a reason. I can’t criticise the guys’ effort. They must have confidence in themselves since they are a good bunch. Our gang has more than enough, whatever happens.
While Palace is still in 12th place in the Premier League standings, Southampton is just four points behind them.
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