Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2 - player ratings: Olivier Giroud, Santi Cazorla? Who was the star man at Selhurst Park?

Who was the star man as Arsenal went up to third?

Olivier Giroud turns in Welbeck's cross to make it 2-0 (Getty Images)

Arsenal held on to beat Crystal Palace to win 2-1 at Selhurst Park.

The Gunners went ahead through an early penalty from Santi Cazorla following a trip by Pape Souare on Danny Welbeck, which the Palace bench protested had been just outside the area.

Referee Mark Clattenburg and his assistant were central to another big call on the stroke of half-time when Welbeck was waved onside and Olivier Giroud netted a second from the rebound after the England forward's shot had been blocked.

Palace showed plenty of endeavour to try to get back into the match, and grabbed a stoppage-time consolation through substitute Glenn Murray, who then hit the post with a flying header.

But Arsenal held on to close out victory to climb back above Southampton, who play Liverpool on Sunday, and Manchester United, beaten at Swansea.