Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace score: Gunners winning streak snapped in scoreless stalemate - CBSSports.com
Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace score: Gunners winning walk snapped in scoreless stalemate
Arsenal's four-game winning walk came to an end in frustrating weak Thursday as Crystal Palace held them to a 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium. Palace were outstanding in security, forcing Arsenal to attack down the flanks and lob in crosses that were all too easy for James Tomkins and Cheikhou Kouyate to deal with. Certainly the hosts could have done more to get their best players in goalscoring changes -- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had just one shot -- but much of that was down to the industry with which the Eagles defended their penalty area.
Indeed the Eagles had the better of the chances during an impressive flurry in the suited half, Christian Benteke's header well saved by Bernd Leno and James Tomkins flicked a free kick in contradiction of the bar. Here are the key talking points from the game.
Arsenal's intermittent dominance
A accepted refrain of Mikel Arteta's first year at the Arsenal helm has been that his side are not yet at the smooth to dictate terms against any Premier League opponent. He perhaps phrased it best at what time a 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers where he said: "At the moment we don't have the sect to batter teams for 95 minutes."
That much was apparent alongside Palace in a match that seemed early on to be a arranging exercise for Arsenal to break down a sealed defense, something they did rather ineffectively for the opening quarter of this match. Gunners teams of old would state a chokehold on opponents, never giving the ball away, constantly probing for gaps in the rearguard and striking when they emerged. To do so necessitates strictly excellence across the team, not a player like Ainsley Maitland-Niles who fights to fulfill the attacking basics of a left-back.
After approximately 25 minutes Palace upped the ante down the left, where Ebere Eze and Wilfried Zaha would gang up on Hector Bellerin, an avenue that led to a fine Benteke header well saved by Bernd Leno. There was a flurry of pressure to end the half that not only had Arsenal feeling nervous but also gave Palace a welcome break from their defense.
Once play required after the interval Arsenal once more were able to apply the pressure but it was fleeting and all too easy for Palace to deal with because there was no-one in the Gunners conflict who might beat a man with a dribble. It was significant that after 55 minutes the visitors had ruined more take-ons (17 to 15) despite having just 35 percent possession.
Xhaka shakes off memories of his lowest moment
When these two sides last met at the Emirates Stadium in October 2019, it gazed certain that it would be the moment Granit Xhaka's Arsenal career manufactured its end point. As supporters booed their then club captain he responded by tantalizing them to "f--- off" and the die was seemingly cast. The story of his revival has been told on many occasions and although there have been moments when the Gunners fan base have doubted his trustworthy since he has continually proven to them that he is one of the best of what they have... even if that probably is not enough.
At his worst Xhaka can let his aggression get the better, Thursday he used it to put in perhaps his best defending performance in an Arsenal shirt. On no occasion real a 3-1 win over Burnley early in his time in north London had he won more tackles than the six he did Thursday. That possession was often regained at what time he had given the ball away attractive typified what the Swiss international has been for Arsenal.
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Still this was latest impressive display from Xhaka, who seemed to have done further wound to his Arsenal career with a foolish red card in a draw with Southampton last month. Since inhabit brought back into the time he has been a greatly improved player, seemingly comic the suggestion he has been written off as fuel to fire improved performances.
Notable performances
Ainsley Maitland-Niles: The 23-year-old is entitled to have some mitigating factors offered in his defense. This was a trustworthy Premier League start since the middle of last month and a trustworthy on the left flank since October. Nonetheless his passing was poor, his defensive work left a lot to be desired and he gazed to lack his usual burst of pace. RATING: 3
James Tomkins: Whenever a irascible came into the box you could be sure that the old-fashioned center-bak would be on hand with a clearing header or a vivid but direct ball to safety. Arsenal must have felt they were proceeding at a brick wall in attacking Tomkins. RATING: 8
Premier League outlook
The community points leave both sides where they started the day, Arsenal in 11th and Crystal Palace in 13th, understanding the two clubs have now played one more game than most of those teams approximately them.
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