Arsenal 4-1 Crystal Palace: Gunners go eight points clear at top of Premier League

Arsenal moved eight points clear at the top of the Premier League thanks to a routine home victory over managerless Crystal Palace.

The Gunners, aiming to become champions for the first time since 2003-04, went ahead at Emirates Stadium through Gabriel Martinelli's left-footed strike - his sixth goal in six league matches.

Bukayo Saka doubled the lead when he collected Ben White's pass and curled an effort past 19-year-old goalkeeper Joe Whitworth.

Granit Xhaka made it 3-0 with a first-time finish from Leandro Trossard's assist, before Jeffrey Schlupp pulled one back from close range following a corner for Palace's first goal in five matches.

But the excellent Saka restored Arsenal's three-goal advantage with a guided finish from Kiernan Tierney's pull-back to seal the victory.

Arsenal have 69 points from 28 matches, with second-placed Manchester City, who beat Burnley 6-0 in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, on 61 points having played a game less.

Palace, who sacked manager Patrick Vieira on Friday, have not won in 13 games in all competitions and only three points above the relegation zone.

More to follow.

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Crystal Palace

Squad number41Player nameWhitworth

Squad number2Player nameWard

Squad number5Player nameTomkins

Squad number6Player nameGuéhi

Squad number3Player nameMitchell

Squad number4Player nameMilivojevic

Squad number28Player nameDoucouré

Squad number7Player nameOlise

Squad number15Player nameSchlupp

Squad number11Player nameZaha

Squad number22Player nameÉdouard

Squad number9Player nameJ Ayew

Squad number10Player nameEze

Squad number19Player nameHughes

Squad number29Player nameAhamada

Line-ups

Arsenal

Formation 4-3-3

1Ramsdale

4White16Holding6Gabriel35Zinchenko

8Ødegaard5Partey34Xhaka

7Saka19Trossard11Martinelli

Substitutes

Crystal Palace

Formation 4-2-3-1

41Whitworth

2Ward5Tomkins6Guéhi3Mitchell

4Milivojevic28Doucouré

7Olise15Schlupp11Zaha

22Édouard

Substitutes

Live Text

Match ends, Arsenal 4, Crystal Palace 1.

Second Half ends, Arsenal 4, Crystal Palace 1.

Offside, Crystal Palace. Jordan Ayew tries a through ball, but Wilfried Zaha is caught offside.

Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Martin Ødegaard.

Attempt blocked. Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is blocked. Assisted by Wilfried Zaha.

Kieran Tierney (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Will Hughes (Crystal Palace).

Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Tyrick Mitchell.

Attempt saved. James Tomkins (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Eberechi Eze.

Foul by Rob Holding (Arsenal).

Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Substitution, Arsenal. Jakub Kiwior replaces Gabriel Magalhães.

Attempt missed. Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Bukayo Saka.

Substitution, Arsenal. Emile Smith Rowe replaces Gabriel Martinelli.

Substitution, Arsenal. Jorginho replaces Ben White.

Substitution, Crystal Palace. Naouirou Ahamada replaces Jeffrey Schlupp.

Substitution, Crystal Palace. Eberechi Eze replaces Michael Olise.

Attempt blocked. Michael Olise (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Foul by Granit Xhaka (Arsenal).

Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

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