The Wheels Come Off At Selhurst Park

Crystal Palace 3 Arsenal 0 
Premier League 
Monday 4th April 2022 8pm   

There will be some who saw a future Arsenal’ future manager last night at Selhurst Park. A man able to get his team to play spirited, organized football and achieve a convincing result against the bookies’ odds. Unfortunately for the Gunners’ Champions League aspirations, that wasn’t Mikel Arteta. 

No doubt that Spurs’ recent good run under Antonio Conte has upped the pressure, and made a result last night feel very necessary. Even so, Arsenal have won their last five league away matches since the debacle at Everton, so credit to them for taking 15 points from 18. The concern is that the lack of squad depth might now tell. Tierney did not start last night, the word being he is probably out for the season. Tomiyasu doesn’t look like coming back any time soon, although in fairness, Cedric, aside from one poor moment he got himself out of, was possibly the best defender for the away side at Palace. Nuno Tavares though, was hooked at half time. Arteta called it tactical. The last time he started – Forest away in the FA Cup, he didn’t even make it to the interval before being removed. 

Last summer’s transfer spend saw some good business done. Ramsdale, White, Tomiyasu and Odegaard have all become nailed on starters. Tavares and Lokonga might have to become mistakes the club could not have afforded. There looks a chance the latter might have to fill in for a while if Thomas Partey’s injury does not clear up quickly. Seeing the way he went off before he could be subbed suggested he might not return too quickly. Add to this a non-scoring centre-forward and Arsenal are not in the best of shape for the run-in.

It’s often been the way of late that the quality of the defensive play has seen the team through and achieved results, taking pressure off the attacking players to score too often. However, with both Gabriel and Tavares having poor games at Selhurst Park, against a stingy, motivated Palace side, Arsenal had to make the best of their few clear cut chances. Two fell to Smith Rowe and Odegaard at 2-0 down in the second half, and neither was converted. Palace’s third goal felt worse for seeing the state of Partey than the converted penalty itself, which was simply a final nail in the coffin of a poor Monday night in south London. 

Aside from the full backs, Arteta had a full strength eleven, opting to retain Smith Rowe over the fit again Martinelli. Ramsdale returned between the sticks. Without the errors that led to the first two goals, this eleven was on paper good enough to secure the win that felt vital. The defending for the free kick which led to Palace’s opener saw Gabriel fail to make decent contact and Tavares not strong enough behind him. The follow-up goal saw poor decision making by both. Gabriel will come good again. Tavares… well, let’s just say the club’s options at left back are slim, and Arteta may be forced to consider starting Saka there with both Martinelli and Smith Rowe in attack. 

The Spurs away fixture was confirmed as Thursday May 12^th and will only become TV’s desired effective fourth place play-off if Arsenal can get their act together with a couple of wins in the next two matches against Brighton and Southampton. Gooners can hope for a favour from Villa on Sunday against Spurs, but right now they have a look of a runaway train about them. Let us hope that Antonio Conte cannot overcome the ‘Spursy’ factor.

I am uncertain how much influence the international break had on Arsenal’s players, but it was concerning that Palace looked hungrier last night. Arteta switched it at half time by dispensing with a left back, although Xhaka filled in as necessary when Palace did roam forward. Overall, there was too much cheap loss of possession, a lack of focus and a sheer inability to make space in the opposition half. Patrick Vieira’s side had the measure of their visitors and Arteta, in spite of mixing things up with his subs – ultimately withdrawing both full backs – was unable to come up with a solution.

Alex Lacazette’s headers went over the bar, and many shots were high, wide and not the slightest bit handsome. Sub Nketiah hit the woodwork late on, but it rarely felt like Arsenal could get anything out of the match once they were two down within 24 minutes. It just had that feeling about it. Palace largely ceded territory after the break, but defensively looked good enough to do it. 

At the three quarter mark of the game I learned that Jared Gilet was the VAR official – and gave up completely. The handicap on the Gunners when that Australian clown is telling the ref what to do is often decisive. The penalty to make it 3-0 looked so soft that Paul Tierney was not going to give it until someone shouted into his earpiece. Now it might have been one of the linesmen, but my money’s on Gilet screaming ‘penalty’ from the Stockley Park control room, such is the nature of his VAR decisions when Arsenal play. It was likely academic by then anyway, so poorly were they performing.

Partey did not have a convincing match before he was injured, but assuming he is out for at least a fortnight, the midfield is an area for concern. Lokonga has, on occasion, looked a player with potential, but he has been invisible sometimes also. He really needs to step up now. 

It’s a bad defeat, but the key to what remains of Arsenal’s season is winning the games that a side going for the top four should be, starting with the next two. The wheels came off at Palace last night, but it does not have to be terminal. At least next weekend they are at home to a Brighton side that has not been picking up too many points of late, so there is the chance to get back to winning ways immediately. Fail to win that though, and I think we can safely say that it is likely to be Europa League at best next season.

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