please log in to view this image Venue: Selhurst Park Date: Saturday 21st December 2024 KO time: 17:30 GMT Overall Record Wins: 34 Losses: 6 Draws: 16 Last six meetings Arsenal 3-2 Crystal Palace (League Cup) Arsenal 5-0 Crystal Palace Crystal Palace 0-1 Arsenal Arsenal 4-1 Crystal Palace Crystal Palace 0-2 Arsenal Crystal Palace 3-0 Arsenal please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
Havertz in midfield. Lewis-Skelly at left-back. Rice and Calafiori on the bench. No Zinchenko. I'm fine with the attack and the defence, but not sure about the midfield composition...
HT. 1-3. What a kamikaze first half. That was like watching Angeball lol. We look very fluid and neat in attack, but my word, defensively a mess. We've struggled when Palace have played it long, struggled when they press high, didn't win most of our duels and Saliba/Gabriel have gotten turned too easily by Sarr and Mateta. We look weak in defensive transition. Partey and Havertz have been too slow to get back when there's a turnover. Sarr's goal doesn't happen if Rice is on the pitch. Partey was jogging back.. The 3rd goal seemed to have halted Palace's momentum and we started to look stronger as the half ended. Unlucky to not get a 4th goal. Jesus looks like a man possessed, he's been incredible tonight. I don't know where this Jesus has been for so long but he looks invigorated. I hope he keeps it up. Saka's injury is a hammer blow, though. Really hope he's not away for a long period of time. We need him badly.
What a double save by David Raya. But we are making it too easy for Palace here to have shots on goal by playing ourselves into trouble. We don't have as much technical security or composure under pressure as we should. Let's hope we do not concede this half.
4-1! Martinelli! Lovely ball from Gabriel into Trossard as he plays the offside trap superbly, he squares it to Jesus for the hat-trick, he hits it straight at Henderson. The ball goes out to Rice who's shot is cushioned in by Martinelli. Should be game over now (you'd think).
FT. 1-5. Much, much better second half after Rice came on. We bossed the midfield and they couldn't get near us. Great cameo from him, and he deserved that goal. Lovely finish. There are things to work on and I really am still very concerned about Saka's injury, but I am hoping the fact that the other forwards all scored should give them confidence that they are capable without him. Martinelli played a lot better when he moved out to the right. Lewis-Skelly by the way...what a talent. Press-resistant, strong on the ball, technically sound, great passer and can combine well through midfield or on the left hand side. Just a superb talent. So lucky to have him breakthrough.
Excellent performance I thought. Played with alot more pace and energy which is what we've been missing in recent weeks. Jesus has been exceptional. Rice was class as well. Funny all this talk of 'not scoring from open play' and 'needing a striker'.. We've scored more goals than Liverpool have. (in fact only Chelsea have scored more than us)
