[ 2014-02-03 ]

Arsenal 2-0 Crystal Palace
Arsenal went back top of the Premier League with
victory over a dogged Crystal Palace at Emirates
Stadium.

Following a goalless first half, Alex
Oxlade-Chamberlain got his first of the season
when he finished calmly after intelligent play
from Santi Cazorla.

Palace could have had an equaliser but Cameron
Jerome's diving header was excellently saved by
Wojciech Szczesny.

Oxlade-Chamberlain then doubled his tally for the
season after he combined with team-mate Olivier
Giroud.

The result takes Arsenal back above Manchester
City, although Manuel Pellegrini's side can in
turn regain top spot if they beat Chelsea at
Etihad Stadium on Monday.

But Arsenal, bidding to win the title for the
first time since 2003-04, gained a vital three
points to move two clear with Liverpool and
Manchester United the opponents in their next two
league games.

Oxlade-Chamberlain's last goal before this match
came at the Maracana last June as England drew 2-2
with Brazil in Rio.

But the 20-year-old, who missed four months of the
season with a knee injury, was the difference
between Arsenal and Palace here, and could yet be
returning to Brazil in the summer as part of Roy
Hodgson's World Cup squad.

It had looked like being a disappointing afternoon
for Gunners boss Arsene Wenger as Tony Pulis's
Palace side appeared content to play for a point.

The defensive tactics worked in the opening half
as a well-organised away side frustrated the hosts
and sucked the entertainment out of the game.

Palace's Argentine keeper Julian Speroni blocked a
low shot from Serge Gnabry and pushed out Ozil's
floated free-kick, which had missed everyone and
was heading towards the far corner of the net.

The Eagles' only first-half chance fell to
Marouane Chamakh, but the Moroccan, who scored 14
goals in 67 appearances in just over three years
with the Gunners, wasted the opportunity with a
heavy first touch.

It was a game to forget for the striker, who was
also at fault for Arsenal's first goal, which came
less than two minutes after the restart.

He failed to track Oxlade-Chamberlain and the
unmarked midfielder, making a first Premier League
start since the opening-day defeat by Aston Villa,
collected Cazorla's ball over the defence and shot
past Speroni.

Palace have scored the fewest goals in the
division - 15 in 24 games now - but might have
been level within five minutes.

Yannick Bolasie's excellent cross from the left
wing found Jerome, whose header from inside the
six-yard box was blocked by the Arsenal
goalkeeper.

That proved Palace's one chance of getting back
into the game and Oxlade-Chamberlain grabbed his
second on 73 minutes when he played a one-two with
Olivier Giroud, outpaced the Palace defence and
shot home to secure the win.

Source - BBC

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