Arsenal thump Palace without United-bound Alexis Sanchez
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ByEurosport
Updated 20/01/2018 at 18:02 GMT
Premier League, Emirates Stadium - Arsenal 4 (Monreal 6', Iwobi, 10', Koscielny 13', Lacazette 22') Crystal Palace 1 (Milivojevic 78')
Nacho Monreal of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his sides first goal with his Arsenal team mates
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal began life without Chile forward Alexis Sanchez in style courtesy of a stirring 4-1 drubbing of Crystal Palace that saw all four goals scored inside the first 22 minutes.
With Sanchez's move to Manchester United apparently imminent after a weekend medical, Arsene Wenger's side set about soothing the concerns of the home fans in style by putting Palace to the sword with a blistering start.
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Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal celebrates scoring his side's fourth goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on January 20, 2018.
Image credit: Getty Images
Nacho Monreal, on his return from a month long lay-off, gave his side an early advantage and with not even 15 minutes on the clock the full-back had also grabbed two assists, after setting up Alex Iwobi and Laurent Koscielny, before having to limp off with an ankle injury. Alexandre Lacazette then scored Arsenal’s fourth to end his nine-game goal-drought.
Arsenal took their foot off the gas after the restart and Palace netted a consolation through Luka Milivojevic on 78 minutes, but the day belonged to the home side's free-flowing football.
The win is Arsenal's first in 2018 and keeps them in sixth.
They cut the gap on Tottenham in fifth place to two points before Spurs visit Southampton on Sunday, while Palace drop to 13th.
TALKING POINT - Finally Arsenal win in 2018..and without their former star player
Speaking in a pre-match press conference, Wenger admitted the January transfer window has been ‘destabilising’ for his squad.
With that in mind, the Arsenal manager will be delighted his team were able to win in such convincing manner – and without Sanchez.
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Mesut Ozil of Arsenal shakes hands with Arsene Wenger.
Image credit: Eurosport
The Gunners are apparently in a 'crisis' and no one expected such a blistering performance in the first half. It was quite refreshing to be reminded of how 'vintage-Arsenal' used to play, even if we had to fast forward back to 'average-Arsenal' in the second period.
MAN OF THE MATCH - Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal)
With two assists to his name as well as a goal, Monreal probably deserves the honour, but he only played for 34 minutes. So the top award goes to Lacazette who finally looks like he has restored his confidence. Wenger even allowed him the 90 minutes.
PLAYER RATINGS
- Arsenal: Cech 7, Bellerin 7, Koscielny 8, Mustafi 7, Monreal 8, Elneny 7, Wilshere 8, Xhaka 7, Ozil 7, Iwobi 7, Lacazette 7. Subs: Maitland-Niles 6, Kolasinac 5, Nelson 5.
- Crystal Palace: Hennessey 7, Van Aanholt 5, Tomkins 6, Kelly 5, Fosu-Mensah 5, Milivojevic 6, Cabaye 5, McArthur 5, Zaha 5, Sako 6, Benteke 5. Subs: Riedewald 5.
KEY MOMENTS
- 6’ - GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace (Monreal, 6) - The perfect start for the Arsenal as Monreal, only returning from injury, heads home the opener. The full-back is left unmarked at the back post and he makes no mistake, nodding in with little trouble.
- 10’ - GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Crystal Palace (Iwobi, 10) - Palace fail to clear the ball as they hack it out wide to Monreal. No one closes the full-back down on the left side and he cuts it back for Iwobi who is left with a simple tap-in. Much too easy.
- 13’ - GOAL! Arsenal 3-0 Crystal Palace (Koscielny, 13) - Alexis who? Arsenal are running riot at the Emirates! Xhaka's corner delivery is deep, finding Monreal who nods it across the face of goal and Koscienly bundles it over the line.
- 22’ - GOAL! Arsenal 4-0 Crystal Palace (Lacazette, 22) Unbelievable scenes at the Emirates, as Lacazette finally ends his goal drought! It is a sensational team goal. Ozil plays a one-two with Wilshere on the edge of the box and then flicks the ball into the path of Lacazette who slots into the bottom corner.
- 60’ - CHANCES FOR PALACE! First Zaha is bundled over just inside the box by Elneny but referee Chris Kavanagh ignores his appeals. He doesn't dwell on the decision too long as moments later he slips through Benteke and with just the Cech to beat, the Belgian shoots straight at the Arsenal No 1.
- 78’ - GOAL! Arsenal 4-1 Crystal Palace (Milivojevic, 78) - No clean sheet for the hosts as Palace grab a consolation. Benteke rises highest from Cabaye's corner, he knocks it down for Milivojevic who is allowed to turn and finds the net with a volley.
KEY STATS
- Alexandre Lacazette's strike was Arsenal’s 500th in the Premier League scored by French players (excluding own goals).
- Crystal Palace's only victory in the past 17 league and cup meetings was by 3-0 at Selhurst Park last season (W1, D4, L12).
- Palace's sole away league victory at Arsenal was a 2-1 triumph in October 1994, when John Salako scored both of the Eagles' goals.
- Arsenal have scored in all 18 home league games against Palace, totalling 43 goals.
- The Gunners have scored in each of their last 26 Premier League home games since a goalless draw against Middlesbrough in October 2016.
- Roy Hodgson has never won an away Premier League London derby as a manager, losing eight of 11 games, including each of the last five.
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