Business As Usual

Arsenal got back on track after their midweek Europa League loss with a 4-1 mauling of managerless Crystal Palace.

And this was needed. My main concern after Thursday was the psychological damage that it may have done to the players after 120 minutes and that heart-breaking shoot-out defeat. To all the players, but particularly Gabriel Martinelli. But it was clear that whatever Mikel Arteta has said to them - hopefully the same sort of things that we have been saying to each other in order to rationalise the defeat - has done the trick.

In many ways, it was useful to have another game before the Interlull (oh, how I hate them!) as it helped prevent negative thoughts from festering. And it was doubly useful that they were up against a totally out of form Palace; now managerless following the sacking of Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira. They're a poor side, and look in severe danger of relegation. In fact, if they bring Hodgson back - surely the most stupid idea since Olaf the Hairy, King of the Vikings, ordered 10,000 helmets with the horns on the inside (thanks to Blackadder Goes Fourth for the reference btw) - they'll get exactly what they deserve if what I saw at Vicarage Road at the end of last season is anything to go by. He's less yesterday's man than last century's man!

And so to the game itself. No Tomiyasu for the foreseeable future, but both Gabriel and Zinchenko had recovered from knocks received on Thursday. The big loss looked perhaps to be William Saliba - no way of knowing how long he might be out for, but he's not going away with France this week - but Rob Holding, drafted in for his first PL start of the season, was well-nigh immaculate. He's a considerably better player than he was before - and he was OK then, frankly - and has clearly benefitted from the coaching he has received since the end of last season. He looks a much more accomplished passer of the ball, reads the game better, and in this game at least did nothing rash.

I have to say that I was appalled at some of the abuse directed at Holding that I've seen on social media over the past couple of days. For goodness sake; he's a back-up and probably 5th choice centre-back now, so I'm not sure what you'd expect. And he's not complained - he knows his place, he's worked hard, bided his time and has very much taken his chance. But if he's putting on the shirt he gets my unequivocal backing. I hope all you haters are eating your words!

Arsenal of course dominated possession, with Palace looking to hit on the break with their speedy forwards. But they're frankly very limited. Edouard up top lacks class, and both Olise and Zaha flattered to deceive throughout - apart from one moment fairly early on when the latter found himself one on one with Ben White and skinned him, only to see his shot beat Ramsdale but hit the post and then rebound back off the keeper for a corner. Palace had only two shots on target the entire game, and Zaha spent most of his time falling over, complaining to the referee and pulling his socks up. 

Once Arsenal took the lead in the 28th minute - it had been ball domination but nary an effort on goal up to them - the match was as good as over. Palace really had nothing with which to respond. The goal was created on the right by the White/Saka partnership that I have started to fall in love with, and the latter’s cross was smashed in left-footed by Martinelli (thus vanquishing Thursdays demons with one strike of the ball). Cue a roar of relief from the fans. That's 6 in his last 6 PL games; tidy.

From that point Arsenal confidence grew, and the second - from Saka, was assisted by White. He swept the ball home past the wrong-footed keeper from a fairly tight angle.

So 2-0 at half-time. And with Partey and Odegaard pulling the strings, Zinchenko once more popping up everywhere, and Holding snuffing out everything Palace attempted to throw at Arsenal on the break it was well-deserved. One of Holding's best performances in an Arsenal shirt - almost on the level of the day that he had the odious Diego Costa in his pocket that sunny afternoon at Wembley almost 6 years ago!

The third goal, early in the second half, was manufactured on the left hand side. Zinchenko and Trossard combining to set a marauding Granit Xhaka free inside the box, and he stabbed the ball home. At that point we had visions of obliterating City's goal difference advantage; ultimately that was not to be. Yet another assist for Trossard, by the way. That's 6 in the PL since he joined.

Arsenal's new-found weakness from corners - needs addressing, please - led to a scrappy goal for Shlupp; Palace's fans celebrated an actual goal like they'd won a Cup Final! - and they almost scored again when Zaha - remembering that he was a footballer - drove into the box and fired a cross-shot just wide of the far post. But Saka's second put them back in their box - sweet finish from substitute Kieran Tierney's excellent cross and he's now hit double figures for both goals and assists this season. Starboy.

Game seen out comfortably from that point, and we're now 8 points clear. But... it's Manchester City who are chasing, so we can take nothing for granted. We need to expect them to win all their games - for all that they're still in three competitions. And their Champions League draw is as horrible as it could possibly be. Arsenal have 10 games left to play this season, and they have as many as 19. Surely that's in Arsenal's favour, and the main upside to going out of the Europa League. I'm not confident, but I remain hopeful. 10 Cup Finals to go.

COYG!