ARSENAL snapped a run of poor results in the English Premier League today with a dominant 5-0 victory over Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners had failed to win any of their last three Premier League matches prior to today, losing to West Ham at home and Fulham away and drawing with Liverpool at Anfield, but they were in devastating form today.
During that dismal run, the Gunners were also beaten 2-0 by Liverpool in the FA Cup, taking their winless streak to four games in all competitions.
Mikel Arteta’s side put all that behind them today as Gabriel Martinelli grabbed two late goals after Gabriel, a Dean Henderson own goal and a strike from Leandro Trossard had given them a comfortable 3-0 lead.
Centre-back Gabriel headed the Gunners in front in the 11th minute, powering home from a corner kick, and he was involved again as Palace goalkeeper put the ball in his own net eight minutes to half-time.
Trossard netted just before the hour mark, before substitute Martinelli struck in the fourth and fifth minutes of stoppage time to add some sheen to the score line.
According to Opta statistics, today’s win was Arsenal’s joint-biggest margin of victory in a Premier League London derby, alongside their 5-0 win against Wimbledon back in April 1998.
The victory took Arsenal above Aston Villa into third place in the table, with both of them level on points with second-placed Manchester City but seperated by goal difference.
The Gunners are two points adrift of leaders Liverpool who, like Manchester City, have a game in hand.
Crystal Palace are 14th, five points clear of the relegation zone.
