Eagles End Turbulent Week With Defeat At Hands of Gunners

Not sure anyone expected anything from Palace taking on top of the table on their own patch, and so it proved with a convincing win for the hosts and while there were positives for Palace, the two week break from league action will be pivotal to what happens heading into the run in to the end of the season.

TIME/ DATE/ VENUE

• 2.00pm
• 19^th March 2023
• Emirates Stadium, Hornsey Road, London N7 7AJ

RESULT

Arsenal 4-1 Crystal Palace

PLAYER RATINGS

UNUSED SUBSTITUTES – 14 Jean-Philippe MATETA, 17 Nathaniel CLYNE,  26 Chris RICHARDS, 44 Jairo RIEDEWALD, 63 Owen GOODMAN

OPPOSITION LINE-UP

UNSED SUBSTITUTES – 21 Fabio VIEIRA, 24 Reiss NELSON, 30 Matt TURNER, 97 Reuell WALTERS

TEB VERDICT

After this past week this defeat we perhaps on the cards but while there were some positives to take, it was no surprise following the decision by the board to get rid of Patrick Vieira.

Whether the Frenchman would have overseen anything different, this next two week period leading into the visit of Leicester City to Selhurst Park is crucial as we head into the last ten games of the season.

There is plenty of concern among the fans at this point in time with a lot of speculation and uncertainty around the club. That will have not been of any help in the build up to this game but there must be a different attitude and approach by all involved at the club, starting with the board.

On the pitch, it was a very familiar story with a bright start from Palace with Zaha hitting the post and Edouard having a good chance but as soon as they went behind, they looked frail once again. There were shots on target and there was a goal which is all very positive but the next couple of months are going to be extremely interesting.

POST GAME QUOTES

PADDY MCCARTHY

“There are lots of positives to take, definitely. The scoreline obviously doesn’t suggest that but I thought there was fight in the team, there was creativity in the team. We had two early chances. Even when we went down we were able to create in moments. But this is high-quality opposition. They are top for a reason. I can’t fault the lads’ effort. They are a good group and they have to believe in themselves. they have more than enough to win games at this level. At 3-1 we created a chance through Wilfried and then they go and score an offside goal which is a little bit of a gut punch.

The players have had a lot thrown at them. In the week, there was a little bit of illness going around. Obviously there was the situation with the manager on Thursday so a quick turnaround. It is probably a time when we need to get together, regroup and see what happens going forward. Whatever happens, this group has more than enough.”

MIKEL ARTETA

“The desire and the energy that we put in right from the beginning impressed me most. We were really determined and focused and left Thursday in the past. After playing 120 minutes, they have to come back here and do it again against a team with a lot of needs. Palace have not got the results lately but they have been very tough to beat. But we were dominant and deserved to win the game. Today, in the box when we had those openings, we defined the game in the right way.

MATCH STATISTICS

POSITION IN THE TABLE (at the final whistle)

UPCOMING FIXTURES

01/04/23 Leicester City (h) – Premier League (3pm)

08/04/23 Leeds United (a) – Premier League (5.30pm)

15/04/23 Southampton (a) – Premier League (3pm)