Nap-hand Arsenal have too much firepower for the Eagles again

Picture by @YTJourno

Crystal Palace (1) 1 Sarr 11

Arsenal (3) 5 Jesus 6, 15, Havertz 38, Martinelli 60, Rice 85

Gabriel Jesus continued where he left off in the midweek cup tie against the Eagles, following up his Carabao Cup treble with two more to set up a glossy win for the visitors.

Some clinical finishing exposed a porous defence but this was a game in which Oliver Glasner's side created plenty and there were moments when they genuinely had the Gunners on the ropes.

But for once, the set-piece specialist Gunners were rampant in open play and their total dominance late on reduced the home stands to semi-deserted status as the match reached its climax.

A heavy home defeat is not usually the sort of game for taking many positives but Palace should find crumbs of comfort in a performance of verve and ambition that deserved a less severe outcome.

It needed some important David Raya saves to settle the issue and although it was a good Saturday evening for Mikel Arteta's men - clawing themselves back to within three points of leaders Liverpool (albeit having played two games more) there was the setback of losing Bukayo Saka to a hamstring injury.

It did not take long for the midweek hat-trick hero to find the net again. He was lurking at the far post to take full advantage of a Saka cross that the Eagles could not cut out.

But the lead lasted only five minutes - Ismaila Sarr punishing an Arsenal defence backing off to send a low shot beyond David Raya's left hand. The keeper had moments earlier got himself into trouble trying to play the ball out of defence but just about got away with it. Not this time.

Back came the Gunners to reclaim the lead - yet another from a corner. This one deep to the far stick was touched back by Thomas Partey and there was Jesus to arrow a fine shot into the top corner.

Palace were determined not to let that second setback alter their plan to press high and at pace and when they forced the Gunners to cough up possession just outside the box, it needed a strong raised arm from Raya to deny Jean-Philippe Mateta - the striker having the goal at his mercy.

Another sign that this would be no plain sailing for the visitors came when Saka was forced off with his injury.- Leandro Trossard deputising. The long-term repercussions could be bad for Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal were feeling the strain as they tried to protect their lead - struggling to retain possession and picking up bookings. Gabriel was carded for tugging back Mateta, Jurrien Timber for taking too long with a throw-in.

Much needed relief came by way of a Kai Havertz touch in from a rebound off a post after Jesus had nodded a Gabriel Martinelli cross against the woodwork. It came soon after Gabriel had come close to grabbing yet another flag kick goal with a thunderous header against the crossbar.

The Eagles almost grabbed a lifeline at the start of the second half when Sarr reached a miscued header from Mateta with a diving effort of his own, but Raya saved. The pair were also involved in another chance when Mateta's powerful drive was parried up into space for Sarr to follow up with a header that Raya sprang up to collect.

Having missed those two chances, we might have guessed what was coming next and after Trossard had crossed from the left, Jesus missed another chance of a second treble in a few days when Dean Henderson kept out the shot with his legs.

Not that it did Palace much good as Martinelli stabbed in the ball as it was fired back into the area in front of the keeper by a Declan Rice fresh off the bench.

And Rice supplied the icing on the Christmas cake, strolling into the area to curve a lovely shot beyond Henderson's left hand.

Arsenal players have a few days now before their next assignment - at home to Ipswich the day after Boxing Day. Palace head to Bournemouth on Boxing Day itself.

Eagles: (3-4-2-1) Henderson - Lacroix, Richards, Guehi - Clyne (Kporha 81), Hughes (Devenney 69), Lerma (Doucoure 69), Mitchell - Sarr, Kamada (Nketiah 61) - Mateta (Schlupp 81)

Gunners: (4-3-3) Raya - Timber (Merino 86), Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly (Califiori 58) - Odegaard, Partey, Havertz (Rice 58) - Saka (Trossard 24), Jesus (Nwaneri 86), Martinelli

Attendance: 25,167