Arsenal 2-0 Crystal Palace: Ox hits a double as Gunners claim back top spot

Goals

Arsenal- Oxlade-Chamberlain 47′,72′

Lineups

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Monreal, Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Ozil, Podolski, Giroud

Subs: Fabianski, Jenkinson, Gibbs, Rosicky, Zelalem, Gnabry, Bendtner

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Ward, Delaney, Gabbidon, Parr, Dikgacoi, Jedinak, Bolasie, Puncheon, Jerome, Chamakh

Subs: Hennessey, Mariappa, McCarthy, Bannan, Guedioura, Gayle, Wilbraham

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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was handed his first start since the season’s opening day defeat to Aston Villa, and rewarded Arsene Wenger with a match-wnning performance.

Interested into midfield, his second half double lifted over Crystal Palace Sunday at the Emirates, and Arsenal back atop the Barclays Premier League table. On a weekend where several top-half teams slipped against lesser opponents, the Gunners took care of business against Tony Pulis’ squad.

In the first half, both teams played a cagey match, with Arsenal being frustrated by the organized defending of Crystal Palace. The Eagles regularly got men behind the ball, seemingly content to wait for their chance to strike. The result was rather stifling defence and a relatively boring half.

The speed of Oxlade-Chamberlain dominated in the second, however. Two minutes after the restart, Arsenal approach the edge of Crystal Palace’s box, almost a picture of their frustrating first-half attempts to pass their way through the Eagles. The Ox bursted through a hole in the line, however, and Santi Cazorla lobbed a beautiful ball into him.

Oxlade-Chamberlain did well to control and chip Palace keeper Julian Speroni, breaking the deadlock and opening up the game. After, Arsenal seemed to create more opportunity, as Crystal Palace were forced to go after a tying goal.

Palace almost achieved such, as Cameron Jordan had a dead-to-right header yard from Wojciech Szczęsny, who saved nicely. Arsenal killed the game shortly thereafter, as the Ox played a linkup pass into Olivier Giroud, spun around his defender and sprinted into the return feed. He darted into the heart of Palace’s box and blasted a low strike into the bottom corner of the net.

Arsenal then relied on their stellar defence to see the game out, which they did with ease. When Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker play the full ninety minutes of a match together, they haven’t lost in thirty-one matches. That’s a little over two years.

In the wake of disturbing injury news, as well as an underwhelming transfer window highlighted by the failed chase of Julian Draxler, Oxlade-Chamberlain’s dominance in midfield is a very welcome sight for Arsene Wenger. As he awaits for Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Kim Kallstrom and Mathieu Flamini to return from injury and suspension, the Ox’s influence could make a necessary impact in keeping atop the Premier League.