Five star Arsenal returns to winning ways in styles

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal produced a sensational end to things in the London derby meeting with Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium to put their season back on track.

It has been five weeks since the Gunners’ last win, which came in the 2-0 win over Brigiton, when they kept their only clean sheet in nine games prior to the win over Palace.

Despite following that result up with a point in Anfield, Arsenal went on to lose to West Ham United and Fulham in the Premier League before exiting the Emirates FA Cup following a 2-0 home loss to Liverpool.

At that point, momentum had completely shifted from them as they were already fourth on the Premier League standing and out of the two dometic cups ahead of their mid-season trip to Dubai.

On return, it was expected of Arsenal to get themselves back on the front foot and on a positive note they welcome back Gabriel Jesus from injury for the visit of The Eagles.

Arsenal started the game rather well against a Palace that showed little resistance and took a deserved lead in the 11th minute as Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhaes rises high to head home a Declan Rice corner.

It was his second goal in four Premier League games, which also saw him extend his numbers as the highest scoring center back in the competition since his debut in 2020.

Gabriel thought he had a second seven minutes after the half-hour mark but his header following a Bukayo Saka’s corner was adjudged not to be goal bound hence awarded as a Dean Henderson own goal and Arsenal’s lead was doubled.

Leandro Trossard missed a glorious chance to make it 3-0 just before half-time but the Belgian, on his one year anniversary as an Arsenal player, scored one minute before the hour-mark from a scintillating counter move involving David Raya and Gabriel Jesus.

It looked as though three would be it until deep into added time, when substitute Gabriel Martinelli was set-up by Jorginho and Eddie Nketiah for a double, to finally make it a whitewash.

The win takes Arsenal to third on the Premier League standing, ahead of Aston Villa on goal difference and below Liverpool and Manchester City by three points, with both teams having each played a game less.

What’s next for Arsenal

A good way to mark the return to action after two weeks since the defeat to Liverpool. Next for Arsenal is a mid-week Premier League trip to Nottingham Forest before facing Liverpool for the third time in 41 days.

Hassan Afolabi