Crystal Palace vs Arsenal: Eagles overwhelm Gunners at Selhurst

Crystal Palace vs Arsenal: The Eagles wasted little time tearing into the Gunners, as they extended their unbeaten run to five games (3W-2D-0L) with a 3-0 victory at Selhurst Park on Monday.

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Jean-Philippe Mateta opened the scoring just after the quarter-hour mark as Crystal Palace were unleashed by Patrick Vieira after what must have been a hard, but beneficial, week of training. Eight minutes later, Jordan Ayew double the lead and Wilfried Zaha added a late penalty kick to complete the rout.

The victory sends Crystal Palace (37 points) up to 9th (up from 12th at kickoff) in the Premier League table, as they lead the chasing pack of Leicester City (37), Aston Villa (36), Southampton (36), Brighton (34) and Brentford (33) in the race for two places in the top half. Arsenal (54 points), meanwhile, remain in 5th, behind Tottenham on goal difference, though the Gunners have a game in hand.

Final score: Crystal Palace 3, Arsenal 0

Goal scorers: Crystal Palace (Mateta 16′, Ayew 24′, Zaha 74′ – PK), Arsenal (None)

Shots: Crystal Palace 6, Arsenal 12

Shots on target: Crystal Palace 5, Arsenal 3

Possession: Crystal Palace 32%, Arsenal 68%

1. Vieira flourishing in first season as PL manager: It must be frustrating, for Arsenal fans, to look at the work Patrick Vieira has done in all of eight months as Crystal Palace manager, then look at how far Arsenal have (or haven’t) come in two and a half years under Mikel Arteta. When you consider the difference in financial resources invested to assemble the two squads, what Vieira is doing becomes even more impressive. Crystal Palace have an identity — they’re going to out-work every side in the Premier League, all 38 games — thanks to Vieira, and Arsenal