No word from Roy, again, the elusive scamp. So that’s your lot. Nick Ames was at Selhurst Park, and his verdict is in. You know what to do: click and enjoy! And many thanks for reading this MBM. See you again soon.
A mixed day for Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who scored a fine goal but was later deservedly sent off.
Updated
Sat 11 Jan 2020 09.55 EST
First published on Sat 11 Jan 2020 06.30 EST
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Key events
Mikel Arteta speaks. “The first 35 minutes is exactly what I want my Arsenal team to play like. We were very dominant, controlled the game, we created chances, we were so good in transition. I was really pleased with the first half. The first ten to 15 minutes of the second half, credit to them, they started to put balls into the box and we had more difficulties. We conceded a goal where we switched off completely, that is unacceptable and I am really upset with that. But after that we reacted very well. I haven’t seen [the Aubameyang challenge] but I think it was a harsh challenge. Knowing Auba I don’t think he meant to do it, but maybe he mistimed it. To control Palace for 90 minutes is impossible, but to play the way we did, I am very pleased.” He also confirms that Lucas Torreira has picked up an injury. Calm, level-headed, no-nonsense analysis from Arteta there. He really does cut an impressive figure.
Gary Cahill speaks to BT Sport: “It was frustrating. When they went down to ten, we pushed a bit more. Frustrating not to get the win. But then again first half they were very good, we found it tough to deal with their passing and movement. But when we got to grips with it, I thought we certainly deserved a point. I knew [the Aubameyang challenge] looked bad on the pitch.”
Man-of-the-match Jordan Ayew adds: “It was a poor first half, but second half we were the better team and deserved to equalise. I’m a striker, so I’ll take anything!”
FULL TIME: Crystal Palace 1-1 Arsenal
That’s a good point for Palace, seeing they didn’t turn up until the 30-minute mark. Their unbeaten sequence against the Gunners stretches to four matches.
90 min +6: The free kick drops to Tomkins, who lashes wildly over from the left-hand edge of the D. Sokratis goes down, claiming to have been elbowed, but there wasn’t anything in it. A brush of the forearm, little else.
90 min +5: A free kick for Palace out on the right, and a chance for the hosts to load the box. One last chance. Before it can be taken, Luiz picks up the ball and demands the free kick be taken somewhere else. A brief shoving match ensues.
90 min +3: Nelson sends Pepe into space down the left. With Xhaka offering himself on the overlap, Pepe clanks the ball into the nearest Palace player. That’s a poor pass, with Palace very light at the back, a sensational late winner there for the taking. He should have sent Xhaka free.
90 min +2: Lacazette is replaced by Nelson. “The pre-Arteta Arsenal would have folded like a cheap suit after the red card,” argues Mary Waltz. “Give them credit for going for the three points.”
90 min +1: The first of four added minutes flies by without too much incident.
90 min: Zaha goes down in the penalty area, tumbling under not much pressure. He really wants a spot kick, but neither referee nor VAR is falling for the grift.
89 min: Lacazette is booked for a common-or-garden foul, a result of the totting-up process.
87 min: Palace haven’t put too much pressure on Arsenal since the red card. Time’s running out if they’re to take advantage of their extra man. “It wasn’t just Walton who got the Lacazette challenge wrong,” writes Ruth Purdue. “Martin Keown grudgingly thought it was a yellow. That sort of tackle was fine when he did it maybe?”
85 min: Tomkins goes sliding in on Martinelli. Arsenal surround the referee, demanding a red card. It was certainly late; arguably out of control. But front on, and just a yellow. BREAKING NEWS: Peter Walton agrees!
84 min: In fact, credit where it’s due: Guaita fingertipped Pepe’s effort onto the post. What a wonderful save!
83 min: Pepe hits the post! Martinelli juggles his way down the right and slips the ball inside for Lacazette, who shuttles it further left for Pepe. Pepe sends a low fizzer past Guaita and onto the bottom of the right-hand post. A fine effort, but one that unluckily pings back towards the keeper instead of going in. Guaita can’t gather first time, though, and Lacazette tries to stab home the loose ball. Guaita smothers at point-blank range and gathers. What an escape for Palace!
81 min: Palace stroke it around the middle, without too much urgency. The crowd urge them to pick up the pace.
79 min: ... nothing happens.
78 min: Tomkins wins a header off Zaha’s left-wing cross. It loops over Leno towards the top left. Sokratis acrobatically hooks off the line, just in time. Palace argue the ball also brushed his arm, but they’re not getting that decision. Maitland-Niles clears for a corner, from which ...
76 min: A little bit of space down the inside-left channel for Martinelli. He wins a corner, from which Xhaka takes a clean whack at goal from the right of the D. He connects well, but his effort is blocked and cleared. Arsenal aren’t giving up hope of the win, despite going down to ten men.
75 min: The game itself has fallen a bit flat since the sending off, as both teams come to terms with the new landscape.
73 min: Peter Walton, though. Sweet mercy. What a company drone. The Man always right. There won’t be a more obvious potential leg-breaker all season, but God forbid questioning a decision made by a fellow official. BT Sport aren’t getting much bang for their buck, to say the very least.
71 min: Martinelli comes on for Ozil, who has done very little. His first contribution to the story is to be fouled from behind by McCarthy, who is booked for his trouble.
69 min: Meyer is replaced by Cenk Tosun, making his Palace debut. Hopefully Meyer hasn’t been badly hurt. He walked off and doesn’t seem in too much pain as he sits back in his seat in the dugout, but that was a very unpleasant challenge. Here’s hoping all’s well.
RED CARD: Aubameyang (Arsenal)
67 min: Yep, off you go. That was a no-brainer of a decision. Aubameyang caught Meyer above the ankle, studs showing, the player’s leg bending in a sickening fashion. The Arsenal captain can have no complaints.
66 min: On BT Sport, Peter Walton, whose job it is to agree with whatever the referee does, like a good company man, suggests there’s not enough force for a red card. That’s preposterous. It’s an obvious red.
65 min: Aubameyang comes sliding in on Meyer, and that’s a booking. In fact, it should be a red card. He’s studded him above the ankle. That’s a bad challenge. VAR will have a look at that.
64 min: Moves of two passes or more are at a premium right now. All a bit scrappy.
62 min: Ozil takes a whack on the ankle from McCarthy, who came in from behind with unnecessary force. The referee doesn’t react, much to Ozil’s annoyance.
61 min: This one goes to the near post as well. Luiz rises highest and flicks a fine header inches over the bar, the ball landing on the top of the netting. So nearly payback for his role in the equaliser.
60 min: Ozil and Pepe combine down the right to earn a corner for Arsenal. Pepe takes. It’s whipped towards the near post. Lacazette gets there first, but can’t flick a header goalwards. It’ll be another corner, though.
59 min: Free kick for Palace in the centre circle. McCarthy larrups it straight out of play for a goal kick. Very poor.
57 min: This is good end-to-end stuff now. Meyer takes a snapshot from the left of the D, but slices it wildly right of the target. A fair chance this won’t end 1-1.
56 min: Arsenal try to respond immediately, Guendouzi slipping a pass down the inside right for Lacazette, who nearly spins McArthur, but not quite. The defender just about holds his ground, allowing Guaita to claim.
GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-1 Arsenal (Ayew 54)
This is certainly better from Palace. Meyer springs a high Arsenal line down the right. Kouyate cushions the resulting cross on the spot for Ayew, who shoots towards the left of goal. The ball takes an absurd break off Luiz, looping over Leno, suddenly stranded, in slow motion. And in it goes, bouncing apologetically into the bottom left. That could be an own goal, not sure if Ayew’s effort was off target, but let’s give it to the striker.
53 min: McCarthy is sent into a pocket of space down the left by Zaha. He drops a shoulder and enters the box, but Guendouzi steps cleverly into the space, stealing possession and earning a free kick. This is better from Palace, though.
52 min: Luiz clears the set piece with ease. Leno has yet to be called into action.
51 min: Kouyate is clattered unceremoniously by Maitland-Niles, as the Palace man attempts to spin free down the left. That’s a booking, and a free kick in a dangerous position, just to the side of the Arsenal box.
49 min: Luiz faffs again, this time deliberately over a free kick in the midfield, to draw some of Palace’s early second-half sting. Full marks for game management.
47 min: Luiz knocks over Meyer, and it’s a free kick out on the right touchline. McCarthy hoicks it into the box. Tomkins wins a header, and Ayew latches onto the ball in the six-yard box, with Luiz snoozing. But the flag goes up for offside. Relief for Luiz, who was faffing around in the grand style.
Here we go again! Palace get the ball rolling for the second half. Torreira appears to have picked up an injury, and he’s replaced by Guendouzi. A big loss for Arsenal; Torreira was arguably their best player in the first half. He was certainly heavily involved. Big shoes for Guendouzi to fill.
Half-time entertainment.
HALF TIME: Crystal Palace 0-1 Arsenal
Nothing of note happens in them, other than the crowd giving their own team the bird as they pass the ball meekly backwards. The hosts need a serious rethink. Arsenal will be more than happy, especially with their fast start.
45 min: There will be two added minutes to this first half.
44 min: Pepe is booked for tangling with a prone McCarthy, petulantly letting his boot brush the Palace man.
43 min: McCarthy launches another long free kick towards the Arsenal box. Tomkins brings the ball down and nearly bursts through the pack on the edge of the area, but Torreira gets involved and clears. Palace have had 53% possession in the last five minutes. Small acorns, and all that.
41 min: Kouyate barges his way through a couple of half-arsed Arsenal challenges, and enters the box on the left. He’s not afforded that much time to shoot, though, and can only send a speculative snapshot towards the top right. Leno makes a nine-course tasting menu of dealing with Kouyate’s effort, nearly spilling it into the top right, but he gathers himself, and the ball, just in time.
39 min: This has become scrappy. Kolasinic bowls Kouyate to the ground. A free kick out on the right. Palace line up on the edge of the box. Luiz clears McArthur’s ball in. Lacazette threatens to break, but clumsily clatters McCarthy, and the chance of racing up the other end, with Palace light at the back, is gone.