Arsenal ended a three-match losing run in all competitions in style as they crushed Crystal Palace 5-0 at Emirates Stadium to go third in the table.

Centre-back Gabriel was the star of the show for Arsenal as he scored twice, both from set-pieces, to put the Gunners in control before Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli (twice) scored from counter-attacks in the second half to add to the pressure on Palace manager Roy Hodgson.

How the match unfolded

Mikel Arteta made three changes from the side who lost to Fulham on New Year’s Eve. Gabriel Jesus, Trossard and Oleksandr Zinchenko came back into the starting XI, while Hodgson made two changes for Palace, Will Hughes and Jeffrey Schlupp coming in for Jordan Ayew and Michael Olise.

Arsenal’s bright start was rewarded with a goal after 10 minutes, Gabriel rising highest to head home Declan Rice’s corner at the back post. It was Arsenal’s ninth Premier League goal from a corner this season, and 10th headed goal, both more than any other Premier League team. 

It was nearly 2-0 minutes later as another Arsenal set-piece ball rebounded off Jefferson Lerma and hit the bar.
Palace threatened in spurts. Lerma pounced on a poor clearance from David Raya and tested the Arsenal goalkeeper with a powerful long-range shot that the Spaniard tipped behind.

Arsenal doubled their lead in the 37th minute, with again Gabriel adding his second of the match. The defender got ahead of his marker Chris Richards once more to head Bukayo Saka’s far-post corner in off Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

Arsenal got their third of the game just before the hour. Shortly after missing a chance to score, Trossard this time converted from a counter-attack that only took 10 seconds. 

Raya gathered a Palace cross and threw the ball out to Jesus down the right. The Arsenal striker ran with the ball before squaring to Trossard, who dropped Chris Richards before finishing past Henderson to celebrate the first anniversary of joining the club. It was also the Belgian’s first of eight goals for the club not assisted by Saka.

The game eased off as both sides made substitutions, with Rice one of the changes, limping off, which could be a worry for Arteta. 

Substitute Martinelli scored twice inside two stoppage-time minutes, both from counter-attacks, to round off a huge victory for the home side.

The win takes his team into third, level on points with Manchester City and Aston Villa either side of them with 43 and two points behind leaders Liverpool.

The defeat means that Palace are on a run of five points from their last 10 matches which leaves them 15th with 21 points, only five above the relegation zone. 

Club reports

Arsenal report | Palace report

Match officials

Referee: Paul Tierney. Assistants: Scott Ledger, Dan Robathan. Fourth official: Andy Madley. VAR: Stuart Attwell. Assistant VAR: Steve Meredith.