CRYSTAL Palace were comfortably beaten by Arsenal this afternoon at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners enjoyed the majority of the possession throughout, and despite the Eagles putting in a stubborn performance to go in goalless at the break, they were finally undone by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The result leaves the Eagles one place above the relegation zone, and they will target next Saturday's match against West Bromwich Albion as a big chance to get back to winning ways.
The hosts enjoyed all the possession in the opening stages and their patience nearly paid off when Mesut Ozil threaded a ball into the path of Nacho Monreal but Julian Speroni stayed big to deny him.
In fact, in the first opening ten minutes, Arsenal had 81 per cent of the ball as they looked to create an opening.
However, Marouane Chamakh, on his return to the Emirates, nearly gave Palace the lead when he ran at the Arsenal defence and got away from Laurent Koscielny but overcooked his touch before Wojciech Szczesny raced out to smother.
Chamakh was certainly eager to show his former employers what they let go as he turned superbly on the ball from Jason Puncheon's pass, and the Moroccan returned the favour to the winger but the pass was too heavy inside the box.
Arsene Wenger's side continued to pass the ball around but Palace showed they could hit the hosts on the break down the flanks in particular.
Speroni saw Wayne Hennessey arrive at the club on transfer deadline day and he showed exactly why he's the number one at the club with a world class save on 37 minutes.
Ozil floated a free-kick into the danger zone and Laurent Koscielny got a slight touch to send the ball towards the bottom corner, but Speroni threw himself to his right to tip the ball around the post. It was a truly stunning stop from the Argentine.
Per Mertesacker had a tame header caught with ease by Speroni from another Ozil free-kick, and Palace went into the break with a good sense of satisfaction as the score remained goalless.
But just minutes into the second period, Arsenal took the lead.
Santi Cazorla cut in from the right, looked up and found Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the left side of the box before he lifted the ball over the advancing Speroni.
However, the Eagles should have been level two minutes later through Cameron Jerome.
Jason Puncheon got down the left and delivered into the box, which saw Yannick Bolasie glance a header towards the back post for Jerome, and the big man's downward header was somehow kept out by Szczesny.
Lukas Podolski threatened to double the Gunners' lead when he blasted against the side netting, while Barry Bannan came on for Jerome soon after.
Damien Delaney headed wide as Palace looked for a way back in, but Arsenal looked threatening as they bombed forward through the likes of Ozil and Cazorla.
The Eagles hit Arsenal on the break on 68 minutes when Delaney powered through the middle and found Puncheon on the right.
The winger cut the ball back to Bannan, who hit a first-time effort way over the bar, much to Delaney's frustration.
Arsenal doubled their lead on 73 minutes, however, thanks to Oxlade-Chamberlain again.
The winger burst inside from the left before space opened up for him to blast a shot home despite Speroni getting a hand to it.
Palace huffed and puffed to try and get back into the game but Arsenal were comfortable.
Dwight Gayle came on for Chamakh, who got a good reception from the home support, while Gayle had a free-kick blocked by the Arsenal wall.
Jonathan Parr drove a shot over the bar in added-on time as Palace ran out of ideas, while the hosts were happy to wind the clock down up the other end before referee Jon Moss blew the final whistle.
Palace: Speroni, Ward, Gabbidon, Delaney, Parr, Bolasie, Dikgacoi, Jedinak, Puncheon, Chamakh (Gayle 82), Jerome (Bannan 56).
Subs Not Used: Hennessey, Mariappa, McCarthy, Guedioura, Wilbraham.
Attendance: 60,005
Report by Croydon Advertiser Sports Reporter Mark Ritson
