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As it happenedended

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Crystal Palace vs Arsenal - as it happened: Eagles storm past lifeless Gunners at Selhurst Park

Re-live all the action from Selhurst Park

Samuel Lovett,Mark Critchley

Monday 10 April 2017 10:59 BST

Townsend celebrates his goal — Townsend celebrates his goal (Getty)

Crystal Palace host Arsenal in a Premier League clash on Monday night, with Arsène Wenger’s side looking to close the gap on the top four.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger warns of 'big damage' if Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain does not sign new contract
Arsene Wenger's next move is 'important for me', says Mesut Ozil as Arsenal star drops latest hint on future
Sam Allardyce insists Arsene Wenger has no obligation to tell Arsenal fans of his future plans
Emiliano Martinez to continue in goal against Crystal Palace but Laurent Koscielny ruled out

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What time does it start?

The match will kick off at 8.00pm at Selhurst Park.

Where can I watch it?

It will be shown live on Sky Sports 1, with coverage starting at 7.00pm.

Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings

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Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings

David Ospina

He was rarely threatened but when he was required he was strong and tough to beat. 6

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Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings

Calum Chambers

Very sharp on the overlap. Superb workrate.Picked out a superb ball to Ramsey in the West Ham penalty area in the first half. 7

Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings

Nacho Monreal

One of Arsenal’s less effective players and allowed Jarvis to get past him too often in the second half. 6

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Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings

Per Mertesacker

Very intelligent display. Rarely out of position in the Arsenal defence. 7

Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings

Laurent Koscielny

Assured performance. Handled Sakho effectively which many central defenders this season have failed to do. 7

Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings

Francis Coquelin

A rare bad game for the defensive midfielder. Too often he was too slow to move the ball on though he did do the basics well. 6

Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings

Aaron Ramsey

Back in the team and back on the scoresheet. A very impressive performance in the centre of midfield. Linked up midfield and attack brilliantly and took his goal very well. 7

Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings

Mesut Ozil

Provided a connection between the midfield and attack. Not outstanding but not ordinary either. 6

Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings

Theo Walcott

He dallied when he was one-on-one with Adrian in the early exchanges of the game that led to him losing the ball. He was just as bad when he again went one-on-one with the West Ham keeper. This time he struck the ball softly and into the hands of Adrian. Replaced on 70 minutes. 5

Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings

Alexis Sanchez

High energy and always a threat. He rarely gave O’Brien a chance to get near him as the Chilean constantly sought ways to slice open the West Ham defence. Replaced by Welbeck with 24 minutes to play. 7

Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings

Olivier Giroud

Took his goal perfectly. A beautiful left-footed effort that left Adrian with no chance. Clever link up play with Ramsey for Arsenal’s second goal. 8

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Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings

Off the bench: Danny Welbeck

Came on for Sanchez on 66 minutes. His presence wasn’t appreciated by the West Ham defence and he offered Arsenal a different option. 6

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Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings

Off the bench: Santi Cazorla

Replaced Walcott on 70 minutes. Played an excellent ball across the West Ham goal for Flamini to convert. 7

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Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings

Off the bench: Mathieu Flamini

Came on a late second half substitute and converted excellent to put Arsenal 3-0 up. 6

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Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings

Adrian

Pulled off a superb save to deny Sanchez’s goalbound header in the first half. Difficult to criticise him for any of Arsenal's goals. 6

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Aaron Cresswell

Not as dogged as he has been previously at left-back. Walcott ran free from him a number of times which exposed Kouyate and Collins in central defence. 6

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Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings

Cheikhou Kouyate

His poor distribution from central defence meant that the Arsenal players were able to put his teammates under immediate pressure. 5

Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings

James Collins

Contained Walcott and Giroud well to begin with but he wasn’t consistent enough. He allowed the French striker too much room to get past him and score Arsenal’s opener. 5

Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings

Joey O’Brien

Defended well at set pieces and had to endure a tough battle against Sanchez who ran at the full-back whenever he got the opportunity. 6

Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings

Alex Song

The enforcer in front of the West Ham defence. He played much deeper in the second half but when he controlled the ball he had no problems with going forward and orchestrating attacks. 7

Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings

Mark Noble

Seemed to enjoy the test of Coquelin and also chose to push forward much more in the second half which allowed Jarvis to makes runs higher up the pitch. 6

Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings

Kevin Nolan

Worked very hard behind Sakho but didn’t win enough aerial battles and took too long to release the ball. 6

Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings

Matt Jarvis

West Ham’s most threatening player on the counter attack. He was relentless and did not look particularly pleased when he was brought off with 15 minutes to play. 7

Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings

Stewart Downing

Not his day. Sloppy passes and bad decisions. His presence was a little redundant on the left as opposed to being played in a central position. 6

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Diafra Sakho

Strong play but his finishing let him down. Koscielny gave him little joy. 6

Previous meetings

Arsenal 2 Crystal Palace 0
Premier League, January 2017

Arsenal 1 Crystal Palace 1
Premier League, April 2016

Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2
Premier League, August 2016

Form

Crystal Palace: WWWWL

Arsenal: WLLDW

Odds

Provided by 888.com

Crystal Palace: 18/5

Arsenal: 8/11

Draw: 31/10

Good evening and welcome to the Independent's live coverage of tonight's Premier League clash between Crystal Palace and Arsenal.

The Eagles head into tonight's match on the back of a 3-1 defeat by Southampton but remain in good stead following a four-match winning run which has seen them climb up the league.

As for Arsenal, Arsene Wenger's men sit seven points off Manchester City in fourth but, with three games in hand, the side will feel confident that they can secure yet another season of Champions League.

Team news to follow...

Samuel Lovett10 April 2017 18:32

Selhurst Park is looking particularly ominous ahead of this evening's 8pm kick-off...

But Big Sam isn't letting a few grey clouds darken his mood. He knows that a win tonight would take his side six points clear of the drop zone.

Vithushan Ehantharajah10 April 2017 19:03

Vithushan Ehantharajah10 April 2017 19:03

And here's the team news for all you traditionalists:

Crystal Palace: Hennessey, Ward, Kelly, Sakho, Schlupp, Milivojevic, Cabaye, Zaha, Puncheon, Townsend, Christian Benteke.

Subs: Speroni, Flamini, McArthur, Fryers, KaiKai, Sako, Delaney.

Arsenal: Martinez, Bellerin, Mustafi, Gabriel, Monreal, Xhaka, Elneny, Walcott, Ozil, Welbeck, Sanchez.

Subs: Gibbs, Mertesacker, Ramsey, Giroud, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Coquelin, Macey.

Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)

Vithushan Ehantharajah10 April 2017 19:04

Claudio Ranieri is in the Sky Sports studio for this evening's game!

Here's some Ranieri #banter to whet your appetite:

Will the affable Italian go to town on the players who helped bring his Leicester reign to an ignoble end? Or will he maintain a dignified silence?

We're willing to bet it'll be the latter.

Vithushan Ehantharajah10 April 2017 19:06

As you were, then

No changes to either team, with Emiliano Martinez continuing in goal for Arsenal. The home side are just as they were for their 3-1 defeat to Southampton, the away side are just as they were for their 3-0 victory over West Ham.

That doesn't bode particularly well for the Selhurst faithful.

Vithushan Ehantharajah10 April 2017 19:08

Parish's programme notes

Palace won their last home match 1-0 against Watford - not that their chairman, Steve Parish, was particularly pleased. He describes the game as a "turgid affair" in his programme notes this evening, and urges his team to pull something out the bag this evening.

So back to the football, the last home game against Watford was a turgid affair but we managed to get the all-important goal to secure the win, and tonight I'm sure will be a much more exciting game.

Let's hope we can come away with a result against what is a very good Arsenal team, despite what people are saying.

Vithushan Ehantharajah10 April 2017 19:13

Claudio Ranieri has insisted he can't believe that the players turned on him: "No, I can't believe it. I can't believe that my players killed me. No. No. No."

He did hint, though, that someone behind the scenes was to blame for his dismissal.

"Maybe, could be somebody behind me, maybe this people this year they push a little more.

"I don't want to say [who]. I'm a serious man."

Samuel Lovett10 April 2017 19:14

Vithushan Ehantharajah10 April 2017 19:16

Uh oh

Here's a killer stat: Arsene Wenger has never lost a Premier League game against Crystal Palace, winning eight and drawing three.

#WengerIn?

Vithushan Ehantharajah10 April 2017 19:20

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