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Arsene Wenger has stopped dreaming about it, and lose to West Brom at the Emirates tonight it will become a reality - Arsenal will officially not be able to win the Premier League this season.
The Gunners, who last picked up the trophy in 2004, will be an unassailable 13 points behind leaders Leicester City with four games to play.
After a tame performance against Crystal Palace which ended in a 1-1 draw, Wenger said he was no longer "dreaming" about winning the title.
"Honestly after the game today I am not in that kind of mood to dream about the championship, I am more in the kind of mood to repair the mental damage and prepare for the next game,” Arsenal’s manager said.
Show all 22 1 /22Arsenal 1 Crystal Palace 1 player ratings Arsenal 1 Crystal Palace 1 player ratings Arsenal: Petr Cech: 5 out of 10 In his first match in over a month he looked rather nervy under the high ball, flapping at one corner, but few were expecting the disastrously tame hand he threw out at Bolasie’s equaliser.
Arsenal 1 Crystal Palace 1 player ratings Bellerin: 6 out of 10 Under little pressure from Ledley he was able to get forward and offer plenty to Arsenal’s build-up play but his crossing was largely woeful – though why he expected Welbeck or Iwobi to have the beating of Delaney and Dann in the air is tough to fathom.
Arsenal 1 Crystal Palace 1 player ratings Gabriel: 5 out of 10 Early in the first half Bolasie barged through the centre-back with ease. It’s the sort of bizarre moment that makes you question why Gabriel, a defender with all the raw attributes he needs – is performing so poorly so often.
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Arsenal 1 Crystal Palace 1 player ratings Koscielny: 7 out of 10 Commanding and composed on the rare occasions Palace counter-attacked, he smartly cut out passes whilst showing real composure on the ball.
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Arsenal 1 Crystal Palace 1 player ratings Monreal: 6 out of 10 It’s hard to remember an occasion when Palace attacked down the Arsenal left and all in all this was a particularly quiet afternoon for Monreal, who got forward when required but really had little to do.
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Arsenal 1 Crystal Palace 1 player ratings Elneny: 6 out of 10 As per there was plenty of neat passing from Elneny but today there was little incision, though he was visibly frustrated by the poor movement of Arsenal’s front four.
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Arsenal 1 Crystal Palace 1 player ratings Coquelin: 7 out of 10 Powered his way past Palace’s midfield on plenty of occasions whilst getting back swiftly to clear when the visitors looked to threaten on the counter.
2016 The Arsenal Football Club Plc
Arsenal 1 Crystal Palace 1 player ratings Iwobi: 6 out of 10 For perhaps the first time since his promotion to the starting lineup things didn’t quite work out for Iwobi with his touch deserting him all too often.
2016 The Arsenal Football Club Plc
Arsenal 1 Crystal Palace 1 player ratings Ozil: 5 out of 10 A free-kick that curled inches wide typified Ozil’s day, with flashes of excellence but not much end product from the German. Worryingly for Wenger these games are getting all too frequent again. His set-piece delivery was dreadful.
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Arsenal 1 Crystal Palace 1 player ratings Sanchez: 6 out of 10 Nearly three months on from his return to fitness Sanchez’s first touch is still yet to be found and he wasted a host of half chances and decent positions in the first half. However he did at least take his goal well.
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Arsenal 1 Crystal Palace 1 player ratings Welbeck: 6 out of 10 45 atrocious minutes void of movement and running from the forward all changed with a gorgeous assist for Sanchez – when Arsenal needed a moment of quality he delivered.
Arsenal 1 Crystal Palace 1 player ratings Crystal Palace: Hennessey: 6 out of 10 Might have been quicker off his line for Sanchez’ opener, denying the space for the Chilean to loft his header, but otherwise was commanding when Arsenal looked to send crosses in.
Arsenal 1 Crystal Palace 1 player ratings Ward: 6 out of 10 On his 100th Premier League appearance for Palace Ward showed why he’s a regular in this side. He was solid in defence, tracking Iwobi well whenever he drifted infield.
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Arsenal 1 Crystal Palace 1 player ratings Dann: 7 out of 10 Thoroughly impressive from the centre-back, who anticipated Arsenal’s passing well and threw himself in front of their shots on goal.
2016 The Arsenal Football Club Plc
Arsenal 1 Crystal Palace 1 player ratings Delaney: 6 out of 10 Whenever Arsenal chose to fire a cross into the area Delaney seemed on hand to get a powerful clearance on it.
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Arsenal 1 Crystal Palace 1 player ratings Souare: 7 out of 10 Dealt exceptionally with Sanchez, harrying the forward into a string of mistakes the likes of which are rarely seen at the Emirates.
Arsenal 1 Crystal Palace 1 player ratings Cabaye: 6 out of 10 Did his defensive work diligently but was rarely to be found much further forward than the edge of the area, giving him little opportunity to spring counters for Palace.
2016 The Arsenal Football Club Plc
Arsenal 1 Crystal Palace 1 player ratings Jedinak: 6 out of 10 Another to contribute impressively when Arsenal looked to get crosses into the area he also offered a solid shield in front of the backline when the hosts kept the ball on the deck.
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Arsenal 1 Crystal Palace 1 player ratings Ledley: 5 out of 10 Deployed as an auxiliary left midfielder he all too often struggled to keep pace with Bellerin down the right and seemed unable to get forward and support Wickham. He looked little better in the centre of the field and was all too often merely dribbled past.
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Arsenal 1 Crystal Palace 1 player ratings Bolasie: 7 out of 10 Looked dangerous on the all-too-rare occasions he had a chance to burst at the Arsenal defence, notably barging through Gabriel on an early counter. His 81st minute goal may have been fortuitous but he deserved it for his hard work.
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Arsenal 1 Crystal Palace 1 player ratings Ledley: 5 out of 10 Deployed as an auxiliary left midfielder he all too often struggled to keep pace with Bellerin down the right and seemed unable to get forward and support Wickham. He looked little better in the centre of the field and was all too often merely dribbled past.
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Arsenal 1 Crystal Palace 1 player ratings Wickham: 5 out of 10 Utterly starved of service throughout the game he ploughed a lonely furrow bar the odd chance to compete for a free-kick or corner.
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“It is much more about that and to look behind us because everybody is playing well and winning games. For us it could be a fight until the end to get the place in the top four. If we can do more, we will do more but let’s not dream and focus on the next game.”
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