Arsenal 0-0 Crystal Palace: Stubborn visitors end Gunners' winning run

By Phil DawkesBBC Sport

Last updated on 14 January 2021.From the section Premier League938

Wilfried Zaha is denied by a block from Granit Xhaka — Palace's nine shots is the most Arsenal have faced in the first half of a home Premier League game this season

Arsenal's recent resurgence was checked by a stubborn Crystal Palace, who claimed a hard-fought point from a forgettable encounter at Emirates Stadium.

Tagged as relegation candidates as little as three weeks ago, the Gunners came into the game off the back of four straight wins in all competitions, but were unable to find their way past the well-drilled and disciplined visitors.

For a side in such good form, Arsenal were a disappointment going forward, their best effort at goal a shot on the turn from Alexandre Lacazette into the side-netting.

Their only other clear-cut chance was an angled shot from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang that Vicente Guaita palmed away.

There was more goalmouth action at the other end, with James Tomkins heading an Eberechi Eze free-kick against the bar and Christian Benteke drawing a fine save from Bernd Leno with a nodded effort of his own.

The point leaves Arsenal 11th on 24 points and Palace two points and a league place worse off, but comfortably clear of any relegation worries.

Reaction and analysis from Emirates Stadium

Arsenal's Mikel Arteta says fatigue was the reason for a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace

A game to forget

It was only three weeks ago that West Brom boss Sam Allardyce said Arsenal were in the middle of a battle against the drop.

To be fair to Allardyce, he had a point at the time. But that prediction has been made to look somewhat foolish by the Gunners' subsequent three straight league wins, which included hammering the flailing Baggies.

In light of their upturn in form this result has to count as a minor blip, but it underlines the fact that Arteta's side remain a work in progress.

Young players like Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe have added some much-needed zip and creative flair in recent games, but they were stifled here, flickering into life all too rarely against a dogged opponent.

Lacazette had scored in each of the last three league games but was marshalled well by Palace and spurned his only real chance, while Aubameyang remains frustratingly ineffective in his role on the left.

Arsenal also felt the absence of the injured Kieran Tierney and his driving forward runs from full-back.

Credit then to Palace, who had gone five games without a win before beating Sheffield United 2-0 last time out in the top flight, but now have another, deserved clean sheet.

This was not purely a backs-against-the-wall display by Roy Hodgson's side. They sought to burst forward following transitions, using the guile and pace of Eze and Wilfried Zaha to challenge the home defence.

But for the crossbar, goalkeeper Leno and greater awareness from James McArthur, who was unable to turn in a flick on from Benteke from a corner, they would have claimed a win that would not have been entirely undeserved.

Before Thursday's game, Hodgson described Palace's situation - 22 points, 10 clear of the bottom three - as "somewhat comfortable". Thursday's point and their performance will only add to their sense of comfort.

And the good news for Arsenal is that they now have their first home clean sheet of the league season as well as the option of a fit-again Thomas Partey, who played 20 minutes after recovering from a thigh injury that had sidelined him for a month.

'Many players aren't fresh'

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta: "We created a lot of situations against the low block but lacked the final quality. We probably didn't do enough to win the game.

"We are playing a lot of games and you can see fatigue is paying a price, many players aren't fresh.

"We had a period that was fatigue related where we kept giving the ball away. We lacked the quality in the final third to win the game."

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson is satisfied with draw at Arsenal

Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson: "I'm more than satisfied. A hard-working performance, we defended well and maybe with a bit more composure we could have scored a goal. We were playing a team in excellent form and we go away with a deserved 0-0.

"I thought the game was end-to-end and we are happy we took something away from the game.

"Two clean sheets in a row now. If you don't defend well it is going to be hard to win games."

Arsenal now five without a win against Palace

Arsenal extended their winless top-flight league run against Crystal Palace to five matches, drawing four of those (L1).
Crystal Palace have kept consecutive Premier League clean sheets for the first time since a run of four in a row between February and June last year.
Arsenal have kept four consecutive clean sheets in all competitions for the first time since October 2016.
Arsenal have failed to score in seven Premier League matches this season, as many as in the entirety of last season, last failing to score in more games in a season in 2015/16 (8).
Crystal Palace's Christian Benteke had more shots than any other player tonight (6) - the last five players to have 6+ shots in a Premier League game at the Emirates have all been visiting players: John McGinn (Sept 2019), Raul Jimenez (Nov 2019), Sadio Mane (July 2020), Danny Welbeck (July 2020) and Benteke.
Crystal Palace have kept more Premier League clean sheets in two matches in 2021 (2) than they managed in their final 24 matches in 2020 (1).

Player of the match

EzeEberechi Eze

with an average of 7.24

Arsenal
Crystal Palace

Arsenal

Squad number1Player nameLeno
Average rating
5.71
Squad number32Player nameSmith Rowe
Average rating
5.36
Squad number7Player nameSaka
Average rating
5.29
Squad number34Player nameXhaka
Average rating
5.28
Squad number16Player nameHolding
Average rating
4.99
Squad number18Player namePartey
Average rating
4.75
Squad number23Player nameDavid Luiz
Average rating
4.62
Squad number8Player nameDani Ceballos
Average rating
4.61
Squad number2Player nameBellerín
Average rating
4.56
Squad number9Player nameLacazette
Average rating
4.44
Squad number14Player nameAubameyang
Average rating
4.10
Squad number30Player nameNketiah
Average rating
4.04
Squad number15Player nameMaitland-Niles
Average rating
3.71
Squad number19Player namePépé
Average rating
3.57

Crystal Palace

Squad number25Player nameEze
Average rating
7.24
Squad number5Player nameTomkins
Average rating
6.79
Squad number27Player nameMitchell
Average rating
6.65
Squad number31Player nameGuaita
Average rating
6.63
Squad number18Player nameMcArthur
Average rating
6.57
Squad number20Player nameBenteke
Average rating
6.54
Squad number8Player nameKouyaté
Average rating
6.47
Squad number2Player nameWard
Average rating
6.45
Squad number11Player nameZaha
Average rating
6.35
Squad number4Player nameMilivojevic
Average rating
6.23
Squad number10Player nameTownsend
Average rating
6.19
Squad number9Player nameJ Ayew
Average rating
5.97
Squad number22Player nameMcCarthy
Average rating
5.93

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Arsenal

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Leno
2Bellerín
16Holding
23David LuizBooked at 67mins
15Maitland-NilesSubstituted forPépéat 65'minutes
8CeballosSubstituted forParteyat 69'minutes
34Xhaka
7Saka
32Smith Rowe
14Aubameyang
9LacazetteSubstituted forNketiahat 81'minutes

Substitutes

6Gabriel
12Willian
13Rúnarsson
17Cédric Soares
18Partey
19Pépé
21Chambers
28Willock
30Nketiah

Crystal Palace

Formation 4-4-2

31Guaita
2Ward
5TomkinsBooked at 42mins
8Kouyaté
27Mitchell
10Townsend
18McArthur
4MilivojevicSubstituted forMcCarthyat 89'minutes
25Eze
20BentekeSubstituted forJ Ayewat 81'minutes
11Zaha

Substitutes

1Butland
3van Aanholt
6Dann
9J Ayew
17Clyne
22McCarthy
23Batshuayi
24Cahill
44Riedewald

Referee:: Andre Marriner

Match Stats

Home TeamArsenalAway TeamCrystal Palace

Possession: Home67%; Away33%

Shots: Home11; Away12

Shots on Target: Home4; Away2

Corners: Home7; Away3

Fouls: Home11; Away11

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Arsenal 0, Crystal Palace 0.
90'+4'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Arsenal 0, Crystal Palace 0.

90'+4'
Post update
Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+4'
Post update
Foul by James McArthur (Crystal Palace).
90'+3'
Post update
Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Héctor Bellerín.
90'+3'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
90'+2'
Post update
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90'+2'
Post update
Foul by James McArthur (Crystal Palace).
90'+2'
Post update
Thomas Partey (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90'+2'
Post update
Foul by Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace).
89'
Substitution
Substitution, Crystal Palace. James McCarthy replaces Luka Milivojevic.
89'
Post update
Attempt missed. Nicolas Pépé (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left following a set piece situation.
88'
Post update
Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
88'
Post update
Foul by Andros Townsend (Crystal Palace).
86'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Granit Xhaka (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Thomas Partey.
84'
Post update
Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the left wing.
84'
Post update
Foul by Joel Ward (Crystal Palace).
83'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
83'
Post update
Attempt missed. Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Rob Holding with a headed pass following a corner.
82'
Post update
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by James Tomkins.

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938 comments

There ends Arsenal's historic 3 game winning run.
christyjeb replied:
Good point but how about Spurs, Liverpool and Chelsea?
Dear God that was dreadful.

Is that really the best that 'elite' professionals can conjour up?

Am I the only one that thinks for the money these players are on that we're getting short-changed.

Conned even !

What a waste of 90 minutes.
Nelly replied:
Unfortunately, well, depending on how you look at it, the ban on spectators has left football naked in all its glory. Sky etc can't deflect from the rubbish being served up with endless crowd shots and gesture frames, mascots pratting around, managers faking 'aggravation' for the cameras, leaving the lack of quality exposed. Even the top four leave a lot to be desired.
No need for concern over goal celebrations. Absolute tosh from 2 very poor teams.
Oahu replied:
Well, to be fair, they did come up with a way to avoid hugging each other. ..
A predictably poor quality, drab affair between two lower mid-table sides.
christyjeb replied:
And you watched the whole game😂 get a life
Good luck to the editor on Match of the Day finding more than 30 seconds worth of highlights.
Eye_Said replied:
I'm sure the pundits in the studio will drone on about something though - drawing circles & arrows to show 'what should have been' - all with the aid of hindsight, oodles of thinking time and a 360 deg field of view

(I hate MOTD - 5 minutes of footy for every ten minutes of drivel, with a 5 minute segment of what you are about to see when the segment about what you are about to see has finished)
Normal Arsenal service has been resumed.
Nelly replied:
It never went away. The Chelsea game was a 'all or nothing' performance, and the same bad habits soon crept back, first half against Brighton, first ten - fifteen against the Baggies, then a full return against Newcastle and Palace. Arteta clearly believes, in his delusion, that slow buildups from deep defence will pay off. Yet game after games shows - it doesn't.
Maitland-Niles is not good enough to start for Arsenal, let alone play for England.
TV replied:
Always been overrated and has never delivered.
A meaningless mid-table affair. Two mediocre teams.
LondonsFinestClub replied:
No major VAR calls, no crowd trouble, no goals, no hugging. Leceister and Everton will fancy a shot at top four for certain. London clubs look weaker than ever. I think the top three are already in position to fight it out.
And arsenal have been brought back down to earth. Mid table club at best.
Big Phill replied:
On the plus side: mid table is a significant improvement from where they were before the Chelsea game.

Can't see them getting dragged back into the relegation battle they were in at that point.
Utter crap from Arsenal. The onus was on them to force the pace, but 90% of their play is at walking pace. There’s no urgency, desire or fight. Such a shame as they seem to have the talent available, but not a clue how to use it. If a team is a reflection of the manager, then he has to go. £73m for Pepe? When he comes on you’re down to 10 men!
LondonsFinestClub replied:
When I see Pepe I don’t feel so bad about Havertz for the price.
Well that was dull
C Palace and Arsenal are similar in points and in quality. To make believe that C Palace is a weak team against a big Arsenal is not only a mistake but offensive to C Palace !!
MadGooner replied:
Arsenal are not a weak team, they a lazy team, big difference.
We've got our arsenal back!!
tony replied:
Aye back down
Well some things never change, Arsenal still one boring team under Arteta!!
Considering how Palace were doing when Roy took over and that our net spend was 1.5m in the last window I think some fans, pundits and neutrals need to relax a little. As a manager he has organised us into premier perennials. His use of Kouyate and Eze this season has been spot on. Let's not forget Palace need points, we've had a bad Christmas period and we needed a few steady displays.
Wombat_LCFC replied:
Managers like Roy Hodgson have earned their respect, not for winning trophy's like Mourinho, Klopp, Pip and Frank Lampard do, but ESTABLISHING his team in the EPL and never rolling over for 'sleeping giants' like Spurs & Arsenal
Hodgson definitely had Arteta's number today in coaching& tactics department
I was going to say dull as dishwater, but as I was washing up tonight I saw some rather interesting things floating in it.
paul replied:
oooh please tell,was it a soggy breadcrumb,a tomato skin,some dirty water? sod it,I give up tell us all what you saw PLEASE.. it must've been more interesting than that drivel last night
The Arsenal revival is over. Boring mid-table skirmish.
LondonsFinestClub replied:
How the hell did Chelsea cough up three goals to them. Bad reflection on Frank and team.
Arsenal look like West Brom
Shocking
PC Stelios Manolas replied:
Apologies to WBA
Not nice comparing them to Arsenal
Arsenal were so poor even Arteta tried to get involved in the 83rd minute 🤣
JuliusCaesarWasASocialist replied:
Quite right to stop that dirty cheat Townsend trying to kick the ball away
Unlucky Palace it is a shame to only get a point against that lot.
All the gushing vitriol from goons on spurs hys today & yesterday as spurs got a draw and then they can't score against Palace who had the better chances and hit the bar when will they learn 🤣
Bottom half even though played more games than every team in top half.
Johnt225 replied:
and son missed more chances that a 3 yr old

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