Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 5:10 PM• Rian Rosendaal • Last update: 17:27

Arsenal did not have a hangover from the elimination in the round of 16 of the Europa League against Sporting Portugal on Thursday. The leader in the Premier League won 4-1 at its own Emirates Stadium on Sunday against fellow townsman Crystal Palace, where Patrick Vieira was fired as manager on Friday. Arsenal’s lead over pursuers Manchester City is now eight points, although the number two still has a game credit.

Manager Mikel Arteta changed his team in six places compared to the penalty shootout defeat against Sporting. Ben White and Rob Holding replaced the injured Takehiro Tomiyasu and William Saliba in the back. In midfield, Martin Ødegaard and Thomas Partey were again preferred to Jorginho and Fábio Vieira. In the vanguard, Reiss Nelson and Gabriel Jesus made way for Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard. Together with Gabriel Martinelli they had to take care of the danger in the front.

Palace were not afraid in the beginning and almost took the lead after eleven minutes. A shot from Wilfried Zaha hit the post, after which the ball disappeared over the back line via Aaron Ramsdale. Shortly afterwards, Odsonne Édouard approached the Arsenal keeper alone, although he did so in an offside position. Arsenal took control and took the lead after almost half an hour. Saka passed to Martinelli, who played his guard in one movement and sent the ball into the far corner: 1-0. Shortly before the break, the home side doubled their lead. Saka revived an attack, combined with White and then controlled the ball past the hopeless Joseph Charles Whitworth.

Arsenal lifted the score to 3-0 ten minutes after the break. Xhaka combined with Trossard and finished up close and falling. It seemed to get even more exciting when Jeffrey Schlupp assessed a corner kick well and managed to outwit Ramsdale. However, Arsenal did not panic and reduced the margin to three fifteen minutes before the end of playing time. Saka was served by Kieran Tierney from the flank and without thinking the ball hit the bottom left corner: 4-1. A big and comfortable victory for The Gunnerswho resume their title fight against Leeds United on April 1.

No. Team m W G v +/- Pnt
1 Arsenal 28 22 3 3 40 69
2 Manchester City 27 19 4 4 42 61
3 Manchester United 26 15 5 6 6 50
4 Tottenham Hotspur 28 15 4 9 12 49
5 Newcastle United 26 12 11 3 20 47
6 Liverpool 26 12 6 8 18 42
7 Brighton & Hove Albion 25 12 6 7 15 42
8 Brentford 27 10 12 5 9 42
9 Fulham 27 11 6 10 1 39
10 Chelsea 27 10 8 9 1 38
11 Aston Villa 27 11 5 11 -4 38
12 Crystal Palace 28 6 9 13 -16 27
13 Wolverhampton W. 28 7 6 15 -19 27
14 Leeds United 27 6 8 13 -9 26
15 Everton 28 6 8 14 -18 26
16 Nottingham Forest 27 6 8 13 -27 26
17 Leicester City 27 7 4 16 -9 25
18 West Ham United 26 6 6 14 -10 24
19 AFC Bournemouth 27 6 6 15 -29 24
20 Southampton 28 6 5 17 -23 23