Arsenal’s only 2 positives from Crystal Palace defeat

Admittedly, right now, it’s very hard to look at the situation that unfolded for Arsenal at Selhurst Park – as well as events before the match and the aftermath – and not panic.

Panicking won’t solve anything though, and will only cease to exacerbate the issue.

Laying it all out on the table, Monday and Tuesday could probably have gone better. Firstly the loss of Kieran Tierney to a season-ending injury dealt a significant blow to hopes of finishing in the top four, with Nuno Tavares’ worrying performance highlighting that, before further updates merely added to the woes.

Thomas Partey looks set to miss the visit of Brighton at the least as the club wait for further news on his thigh problem, while the calf issues that have plagued Takehiro Tomiyasu and kept him out of the team since January are refusing to dissipate.

Arsenal’s only 2 positives from horrendous 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in the Premier League

Not due back in full training until after the Southampton game, his chances of involvement after that remain doubtful with Chelsea away and Manchester United at home the games that follow.

Oh and, how could we forget, that Arsenal also lost this game 3-0 while Spurs boosted their own goal difference by four. All in all, about as much of a disaster as imaginable.

So what was positive about the game?

The shining light in this dark encounter was the trio off the bench. Unquestionably. The first of those was Gabriel Martinelli who immediately raised the technical level in attack and injected some risk-factor into the game. He wasn’t afraid to try and force the issue, whether that be taking his man on outside or coming infield to link with Alexandre Lacazette, and that energy was key in the second half improvement.

Eddie Nketiah was second to come on, and the fear is that these days it’s uncertain which version of him will turn up. Someone that it’s no secret is on the way out, his cameos off the bench have been hit and miss – Aston Villa stuck out as an unacceptable showing.

This was much improved. Trying to find a reason why he was so engaged could be linked to the reports of the Eagles wanting to sign him on a free contract and him therefore seeing the game as an audition, but whatever the motivation he contributed some drive and energy to the game.

He tried, which is more that can be said on some occasions, and were it not for a lick of paint and more composure from Martin Odegaard he could have got himself a goal and an assist.

Perhaps most reassuring of all was the introduction of Sambi Lokonga. The Belgian brought personality and presence to the pitch. Having not kicked a ball in the Premier League since January, he offered a bright and fearless spark into a difficult situation to be thrust into both in terms of game state and his lack of minutes.

Willing to challenge Palace’s players on and off the ball, look for the forward pass and get stuck into the tackles, he offered a timely reminder of his qualities.

There is a caveat to that, given that at this stage of the game Palace had dropped deep and weren’t imposing themselves as aggressively in Arsenal’s territory therefore Sambi wasn’t faced with the same danger that his teammates had to contend with in the first half. But it should be seen as an encouraging cameo from a player mostly forgotten about this season.

In among the tall Selhurst Park grass there was one more positive to take.

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