Arsenal Vs Crystal Palace: Recap, Highlights And Analysis

Arsenal continue their Premier League duties on Sunday, hosting Crystal Palace. Here’s the full recap, all the highlights and analysis from the

This was an important win for Arsenal. After Chelsea matched their own Premier League winning record with their thirteenth successive victory on Saturday, Arsene Wenger’s side were under pressure to match the scintillating pace of the league leaders as they hosted Crystal Palace on New Year’s Day.

Goals thanks to the heel of Olivier Giroud, in truly wonderful fashion, and the head of Alex Iwobi secured the three points and now give the North London outfit a little confidence heading into 2017.

The first half started well for the Gunners. Granit Xhaka was spraying the ball around, Lucas Perez and Hector Bellerin were linking up well down the right-hand side while Olivier Giroud was finishing space in attacking areas.

It was, after just 20 or so minutes, indeed Giroud that broke the deadlock in truly sensational fashion. With Palace on the attack, Arsenal recovered possession, the ball was played into the feet Giroud who, in stereotypically wonderful fashion, flicked it to his left. Alexis Sanchez then received the ball to feet on the left flank, simply stood a simple cross up to Giroud, who, channelling his inner-Henrikh-Mkhitaryan, contorted and twisted, with the ball behind him, lifted his leg over his back, and back-heeled the ball, in scorpion kick fashion, into the top left corner, flicking off the crossbar for added aesthetics.

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However, while Arsenal started very brightly and scored a fabulous goal thanks to the heel of Giroud, the tempo and intensity with which they played dropped off significantly once they got the breakthrough. Defensively there was very little to cause concern. Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel Paulista were rarely troubled, but the possession was slow and considered rather than incisive and direct. The game petered out towards half-time but there were openings for Wenger’s side. Sanchez had a shot saved well by the feet of Wayne Hennessey and Palace looked to tire late on, something that Wenger will hope to see his team exploit further in the second period.

The second half started in similar fashion. Bellerin continued to threaten on the overlap, Perez was dangerous from his out-to-in runs off the right flank while Iwobi dictated play from the middle of the park. However, there was a stark reminder of the dangers of a one-goal lead. Andros Townsend broke down the left, waited for support and simply stood up a cross to the back post. Christian Benteke rose at the back post but poorly headed wide, kicking the post in frustration.

Thankfully, Wenger’s men learned from the warning sign. Xhaka was more precise in his passing, not forcing the play as much, Sanchez began to threaten, cutting inside from the left-hand side and Alex Iwobi found the all-important second goal. Xhaka picked up the loose ball, fed Sanchez down the left. With wonderful patience, assessing the many options, Sanchez waited and waited and waited, slipped a ball down the flank for the overlapping Nacho Monreal. The low cross was blocked up into the air and fell straight onto to Iwobi’s head who, with the help of a poor clearing header from Joel Ward on the line, duly converted.

The second goal all but ended the game. Arsenal continued to dominate much of the game, passing the ball crisply without too much attacking intention, allowing the game to pass without much trouble, while Palace offered little going forward, with Benteke wholly isolated leading the line, before being subbed off just before the 80-minute mark.

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The game continued to meander to a finish, and while Wenger persistently patrolled his technical area, barking instructions to avoid complacency, there was little to concern the Gunners and their title hopes. An important win to start 2017, to stay in touch with steam-rolling Chelsea and to breathe some confidence into the squad after the two away losses to Everton and Manchester City.

Highlights

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