Arsenal moved eight points clear at the top of the Premier League thanks to a routine home victory over managerless Crystal Palace.
The Gunners, aiming to become champions for the first time since 2003-04, went ahead at Emirates Stadium through Gabriel Martinelli’s left-footed strike – his sixth goal in six league matches.
Bukayo Saka doubled the lead when he collected Ben White’s pass and curled an effort past 19-year-old goalkeeper Joe Whitworth.
Granit Xhaka made it 3-0 with a first-time finish from Leandro Trossard’s assist, before Jeffrey Schlupp pulled one back from close range following a corner for Palace’s first goal in five matches.
But the excellent Saka restored Arsenal’s three-goal advantage with a guided finish from Kiernan Tierney’s pull-back to seal the victory.
Arsenal have 69 points from 28 matches, with second-placed Manchester City, who beat Burnley 6-0 in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, on 61 points having played a game less.
Palace, who sacked manager Patrick Vieira on Friday, have not won in 13 games in all competitions and only three points above the relegation zone.
More to follow.
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Crystal Palace
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Squad number41Player nameWhitworth
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Squad number2Player nameWard
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Squad number5Player nameTomkins
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Squad number6Player nameGuéhi
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Squad number3Player nameMitchell
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Squad number4Player nameMilivojevic
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Squad number28Player nameDoucouré
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Squad number7Player nameOlise
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Squad number15Player nameSchlupp
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Squad number11Player nameZaha
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Squad number22Player nameÉdouard
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Squad number9Player nameJ Ayew
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Squad number10Player nameEze
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Squad number19Player nameHughes
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Squad number29Player nameAhamada
Line-ups
Arsenal
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Ramsdale
- 4WhiteSubstituted forJorginhoat 83′minutes
- 16Holding
- 6GabrielSubstituted forKiwiorat 86′minutes
- 35ZinchenkoSubstituted forTierneyat 65′minutes
- 8Ødegaard
- 5Partey
- 34Xhaka
- 7Saka
- 19TrossardSubstituted forGabriel Jesusat 65′minutes
- 11MartinelliSubstituted forSmith Roweat 83′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Tierney
- 9Gabriel Jesus
- 10Smith Rowe
- 15Kiwior
- 20Jorginho
- 21Fábio Vieira
- 24Nelson
- 30Turner
- 97Walters
Crystal Palace
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 41Whitworth
- 2Ward
- 5TomkinsBooked at 59mins
- 6Guéhi
- 3Mitchell
- 4MilivojevicSubstituted forHughesat 65′minutes
- 28Doucouré
- 7OliseSubstituted forEzeat 82′minutes
- 15SchluppSubstituted forAhamadaat 82′minutes
- 11Zaha
- 22ÉdouardSubstituted forJ Ayewat 65′minutes
Substitutes
- 9J Ayew
- 10Eze
- 14Mateta
- 17Clyne
- 19Hughes
- 26Richards
- 29Ahamada
- 44Riedewald
- 63Goodman
- Referee:
- Stuart Attwell
- Attendance:
- 60,247
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