Arsenal travel to Selhurst Park aiming for a 12th consecutive win in all competitions. A win here would put them 2nd in the table just 2 points behind the league leaders Liverpool. Palace go into the contest on the back of a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Everton. Roy Hodgson will be hoping for a response here.
Team News:
Crystal Palace: Hennessey, Wan Bissaka, Sakho, Tomkins, Van Aanholt, Milivojevic, Kouyate, McCarthur, Townsend, Zaha, Ayew
Arsenal: Leno, Bellerin, Mustafi, Holding, Xhaka, Torreira, Guendouzi, Iwobi, Ozil, Aubameyang, Lacazette
Crystal Palace get us underway at Selhurst Park.
1′ Arsenal immediately take control of possession in their own half as they try to take control of this contest early on.
3′ Milivojevic tries to feed Wilfried Zaha but his pass is slightly overhit and Leno collects.
4′ Zaha is brought down in a dangerous situation, but the resulting Free Kick is headed away by Mustafi.
6′ Torreira attempts to go route one to find Lacazette but it is dealt with comfortably by Sakho.
7′ Wilfried Zaha wins a corner off Hector Bellerin, and the resulting corner is put behind for another by the Spaniard.
8′ Andros Townsend takes the next one but Bernd Leno prevents the danger.
10′ Arsenal come forward with Alex Iwobi but he is tackled quite brilliantly on the edge of the box by Wan Bissaka
13′ Kouyate drives forward for Crystal Palace but his attempted cross is dealt with by Holding. It has been a fairly even start to this one.
14, Alex Iwobi plays a one two with Alex Lacazette on the edge of the box, but his effort sails way over the crossbar.
15′ Best chance of the game so far falls for Palace. Townsend does brilliantly to ghost past Holding and his cross finds Wilfried Zaha at the far post, but his effort his the post.
16′ Palace come back at Arsenal straight away as Zaha returns the favour and finds Townsend in the box but he drags his effort wide from point blank range. Much more encouraging for the South Londoners.
17′ Luka Milavojevic tries his effort from about 35 yards, but he fails to test Leno in goal.
20′ 20 minutes into this one and Palace are growing into it. Arsenal struggling to get going here.
22′ Arsenal have their best opportunity, Alex Iwobi pick pocketed by Milavojevic on the edge of the area as it fell for Lacazette. However the Frenchman drags his effort wide on the stretch.
23′ The Gunners come steaming forward again as Bellerin’s effort is blocked inside the box, and goes behind for a corner.
24′ Mesut Ozil makes a mess on the short corner routine, as he skews is attempted cross away from the area.
26′ Zaha wins a corner for Palace, which will be taken by the captain.
26′ It is once again dealt with by Leno as Palace are left frustrated again.
28′ Zaha once again wins a corner, this time his attempted cross is blocked by Geundouzi. Once again the resulting corner is cleared by Arsenal.
29′ There is coming together between Cheikhou Kouyate and Granit Xhaka as tensions begin to boil. Referee Martin Atkinson separates the two and play is resumed.
33′ Zaha is in the thick of the action again as he tussles for the ball with Lacazette, which the Frenchman wins and earns a free kick in a dangerous position. However the free kick comes to nothing as Ozil’s floated cross is caught by the goalkeeper.
35’Arsenal win a corner off Kouyate, which will be taken by Torreira. Palace win a free kick after some holding in the box.
37′ Alex Lacazette attemps to find Aubameyang in the area but his cross is overhit and goes out for a goal kick.
39′ There is an appeal for a penalty by Palace, as Ayew goes down under the challenge from Mustafi. Nothing is given as the referee waves it away.
42′ The game is beginning to drift towards the half time whistle with plenty of possession in midfield. If recent games are anything to go by, Arsenal save their best for the second period…
44′ Crystal Palace win a corner and from the set piece they win a penalty as the loose ball falls for Kouyate in the box, and Mustafi brings him down. Stone wall.
GOAL! Crystal Palace take the lead on the stroke of half time as Luka Milavojevic slots cooly past Leno.
Half Time: Crystal Palace 1-0 Arsenal
There is a change at half time for Arsenal as Hector Bellerin is replaced by Stephan Lichtsteiner. We are unsure at this point if it is an injury to the right back or not.
48′ Arsenal begin the half with the lion share of possession, hopimg for a route back into the game.
50′ Arsenal come forward with Iwobi but his attempted cross is cut out by Tomkins.
51′ The Gunners win a free kick just outside the area, as Palace’s attempt to play the ball out from defence backfires.
52′ GOAL! It’s a stunning equaliser from Arsenal, as Granit Xhaka unleashes an unstoppable shot into the top left corner past the outstretched arm of Hennesey.
53′ Palace come back at Arsenal straight away and win a corner off Holding. Arsenal survive the immediate hit back as Wilfried Zaha fires wide.
55′ Arsenal win a corner as Lichtsteiner’s ball is blocked by Sakho.
57′ GOAL! Arsenal have turned this game on it’s head as Lacazette’s flick on is touched in by Aubameyang for his 7th goal of the season.
58′ Crystal Palace try to find a route back into the game but Zaha’s cutback in the box fails to find a teammate and Arsenal clear.
60′ Substitution for Palace, as Max Meyer replaces James McCarthur.
63′ Zaha win a free kick which has angered the Ivorian. His teammates attempt to calm him down.
64′ Max Meyer hits the post from an almost impossible angle, as Palace look for a route back in the game.
66′ Crystal Palace are starting to dominate as they come forward again, Zaha’s quick feet finds Meyer in the box but the German skies it from 6 yards out.
68′ Substitution for Arsenal, Mesut Ozil comes off for Danny Welbeck.
69′ Wan Bissaka’s ball in is cleared by Holding and Milavojevic fires over from outside the area. The pressure is building.
73′ Arsenal are enjoying some good possession in the last couple of minutes as they try to take back authority in this game.
74′ Alex Iwobi’s effort is deflected just past the post and goes behind for a corner. The set piece is cleared.
76′ Palace appeal for handball but the referee has waved away the suggestion.
77′ Substitution for Arsenal, Aubameyang comes off for Ramsey.
78′ Lichtsteiner brings down Zaha and creates a dangerous set piece for Palace. It will be taken by their captain
79′ The free kick is cleared and Van Aanholt slices the ball wide.
82′ Wilfried Zaha wins a penalty as his quick feet is too much for Xhaka. Great chance.
83′ GOAL! Luka Milavojevic powers the pall past the keeper and Palace are level.
85′ Palace are pushing for a winner here.
87′ Van Aanholt tries his luck from distance again but he fires it wide.
88′ Substitution for Crystal Palace, Puncheon replaces Kouyate.
89′ Arsenal come forward but Aaron Ramsey fails to connect with Xhaka’s cross.
90′ Four minutes of stoppage time has been signalled.
91′ Jason Puncheon fouls Lucas Torreira. Xhaka will shoot from here…
92′ His effort sails over the bar though.
93′ Meyer brings the ball forward for Palace but he is brought down by Geundouzi. The ball is cleared by Arsenal.
Full Time: Crystal Palace 2-2 Arsenal.
Arsenal’s winning run comes to an end at Selhurst Park, as Crystal Palace’s late equalizer earns them a point. Arsenal stay in 4th and Crystal Palace move up to 14th.