Premier League: Arsenal's top-four hopes suffer blow with 3-0 defeat at Crystal Palace

Arsenal's hopes of securing a top-four Premier League finish this season were dealt a blow as the below-par visitors suffered a 3-0 defeat against rampant Crystal Palace on Monday. Arsenal were put to the sword in the first half by the clinical hosts, with goals from forwards Jean-Philippe Mateta and Jordan Ayew giving Palace a deserved 2-0 interval lead. The Londoners improved after the break, with Emile Smith Rowe and Martin Odegaard missing big chances to get their team back in the match. Their wastefulness proved costly as Wilfried Zaha put the game to bed with a penalty 16 minutes from time.

Tottenham Hotspur's 5-0 home victory over Newcastle United on Sunday means they are fourth, ahead of their of their north London rivals on goal difference having played a game more. Arsenal had been in fine form on the road in the Premier League prior to their trip to south London on Monday. "Congratulations to Palace for the game they played but we made it impossible for ourselves with the way we competed," Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta told Sky Sports. "I apologise to our supporters. We didn't have the presence today or the composure to dominate the situation so that is what I'm most annoyed with. "First of all we need to put our hands up and get the criticism we deserve. Then we accept it, look ourselves in the mirror and look to the next game. This was not good enough."

NO RHYTHMArsenal's 1-0 win at Aston Villa last time out was their fifth away league victory in a row - the first time they had been on such a run since May 2015. But they struggled from the start to find any rhythm, with Palace very much the better side in the opening period. It took the home side 16 minutes to break the deadlock, as Joachim Andersen's head