Arsenal comfortably dispatched Crystal Palace 4-1 at the Emirates on Sunday to open up an eight-point lead on Manchester City heading into March's international break. The Gunners are now just 10 tantalizing matches away from a first Premier League title in 19 years.
The main concern for Mikel Arteta was how his side would respond to Thursday's shock Europa League elimination to Sporting and that 46-yard Pedro Gonçalves worldie. It's still worth another watch.
PEDRO GONÇALVES CAUGHT AARON RAMSDALE OFF OF HIS LINE!
ASTONISHING GOAL! pic.twitter.com/DohIEkSiBt— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 16, 2023
But the Gunners got right after a Palace side slipping ever closer to the relegation zone and playing their first match since the sacking of manager Patrick Vieira. The visitors were close to experiencing that "new manager bounce" early when Wilfried Zaha cracked an effort off the post that then ricocheted off Aaron Ramsdale and agonizingly wide of goal. Clearly the footballing gods were once again smiling on Arsenal.
Arsenal started dominating after that wakeup call and got a deserved opener in the 28th minute. Bukayo Saka hooked in a cross that found Gabriel Martinelli near the edge of the area, and the Brazilian took a touch outside to work a yard of space before belting a left-footed effort inside the far post.
¡GOOOOOOLAZO DEL @ARSENAL!
Gabriel Martinelli abre el marcador para el líder de la @premierleague… ¡Enorme definición del brasileño! #Arsenal 1-0 #CrystalPalaceEN VIVO por @Telemundo y Telemundo APP ➡️ https://t.co/kO0zUAVI6G#LigaPremierTD pic.twitter.com/2Ux7MELyDl
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) March 19, 2023
The Gunners then delivered a decisive blow two minutes before halftime when Saka exchanged passes with Ben White, and the full-back's surgical return ball allowed the 21-year-old to dispatch a finish beyond Joe Whitworth.
¡SAKA, SIEMPRE SAKA!
¡GOLAZO EL QUE HIZO @ARSENAL! El inglés llega a 11 goles y 10 asistencias en @premierleague #Arsenal 2-0 #CrystalPalaceEN VIVO por @Telemundo y Telemundo APP ➡️ https://t.co/kO0zUAVI6G#LigaPremierTD pic.twitter.com/4rQP5oSjU5
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) March 19, 2023
The only question for the second half was how many Arsenal would score. It only took 10 minutes for the third to arrive with Leandro Trossard playing Granit Xhaka through for the Swiss international's fourth goal of the league campaign.
¡EL ARSENAL DE ARTETA YA GOLEA! ⚪️
⚽️ Granit Xhaka define de enorme manera para marcar el tercero del encuentro #Arsenal 3-0 #CrystalPalaceEN VIVO por @Telemundo y Telemundo APP ➡️ https://t.co/kO0zUAVI6G#LigaPremierTD pic.twitter.com/lIpnBZSZ7M
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) March 19, 2023
Palace pulled a sloppy one back through Jeffrey Schlupp following a corner kick, but Saka restored Arsenal's three-goal lead in the 74th minute with a fine finish off Kieran Tierney's pass.
¡OTRA VEZ SAKAAAAA!
⚪️ El crack inglés vuelve a marcar y firma su doblete en el encuentro ⚽️⚽️#Arsenal 4-1 #CrystalPalaceEN VIVO por @Telemundo y Telemundo APP ➡️ https://t.co/kO0zUAVI6G#LigaPremierTD pic.twitter.com/tPrEfCARRb
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) March 19, 2023
Things get awfully tense now over the course of the run-in. The Gunners don't have the most treacherous end to the season, but they do face very difficult trips to Anfield, the Etihad and St James' Park.
It's also worth noting that Arsenal's goal difference is now +40 while City's is at +42.
Arsenal remaining fixtures
- April 1 (H): Leeds United (14th)
- April 9 (A): Liverpool (6th)
- April 16 (A): West Ham (18th)
- April 21 (H): Southampton (20th)
- April 26 (A): Manchester City (2nd)
- April 29 (H): Chelsea (10th)
- May 6 (A): Newcastle (5th)
- May 13 (H): Brighton (7th)
- May 20 (A): Nottingham Forest (16th)
- May 28 (H): Wolves (13th)
