Arsenal are on the brink of getting most of their first team back from injury lay-offs and into match fitness. Given that if everyone was fit for each position their squad depth would be immense, you’d expect them to start performing regularly and notching up three points easily against some of the lesser opponents in the league. Taking home three points from an away game at Crystal Palace is exactly what they did but it was far from easy. By doing so, they managed to keep the pressure on their top four rivals.
Arsène Wenger put out a strong team against the Eagles, who were without Arsenal loanee Yaya Sanogo and former Gunner Marouane Chamakh. It would be fair to say that this match was a highly energetic game with both sides bearing out their fangs to capitalize on an opposition mistake. It was also a highly physical game with 29 fouls being shared between both teams. However, the Gunners got an early opportunity to take the lead and they grasped it with both hands.
Pape Souare managed to bring down Danny Welbeck at the edge of the box and it seemed a bit unclear in replays whether it should be a free-kick or a penalty. However, Mark Clattenburg and his assistant were both convinced the tackle was inside the box and up stepped Santi Cazorla to give the North London side the lead from the spot. From then on it was all about Palace attacking and trying to breach the Arsenal rear guard but Per Mertesacker was in fine form and, with his defensive partners, he managed to keep most of their threatening attacks at bay. The German defender was everywhere along the defensive line supporting his younger colleagues when they would venture forward to assist in counter attacks.
At the stroke of half-time Giroud showed his skills as a goal poacher within the six-yard box as he barely managed to get his toes ahead of the defender onto a rebound from a Welbeck shot which doubled the visitors’ lead. That was Giroud’s 50th goal for the club, making him only the 48th player in Arsenal’s glorious history to score half a century of goals for the club. Conceding at the stroke of half-time would usually deter the morale of most teams but Palace made sure they kept the pressure up in the second half.
Substitute Glenn Murray managed to bungle in a ricocheting ball from within three yards out during stoppage time. This ensured a nervy finale for the visitors. Lady luck finally had the last say as a desperate effort in the last minute of the game hit the left post and rebounded back into Ospina’s safe arms. Arsenal, who should have comfortably won the game with a two goal cushion with five minutes to go, managed to hold on for dear life. Arsène Wenger duly acknowledged Crystal Palace’s efforts during his post-match interview, as he went on to say: “Palace gave everything they had. It was like a cup game. They closed us down and stopped us from playing.”
What is the outcome of this result? Manchester United lost away to Swansea and Southampton are scheduled to play Liverpool tomorrow. Currently, Arsenal have leapfrogged United into third spot. If Southampton fail to win it would cement Arsenal’s position in the top three for this week. That would be a huge morale boost for the Gunners.