FA Premier League 

Arsenal 5 (Gabriel 10, Henderson og 37, Trossard 59, Martinelli 94, 96)   

Crystal Palace 0 

ARSENAL ended their two game home goal drought by thrashing woeful Crystal Palace at the Emirates – but fans can sense all is not as well as it seems.

It may appear hyper critical, but by the high standards set at the Emirates over the years this was a comparatively low quality game – void of any flashes of breathtaking brilliance.

The style of play, grounded in relentless efficiency, has a kind of predictive algorithm feel to it that can be quite dull to watch.

The first half’s play was notable for the number of times players on both sides trying to win fouls by either diving or falling over under minimal pressure, offsides and over-play.

Despite the five goals, Arsenal’s shooting accuracy remains a concern – there were 21 shots with just six on target.

The good news is that Gabriel Martinelli was back on the score sheet after bagging two injury time goals that were a carbon copy of each other.

Leandro Trossard’s goal around the hour mark was the pick of the bunch.

The pint-sized attacker smashed a crisp finish past David Henderson after being put through on the counter by Gabriel Jesus.

The attack following a bit of quick thinking and precise distribution from David Raya in the Arsenal net.

Arteta said: “I loved the whole action. The making and execution of it was top.”

Gabriel had bundled in the opener at the back stick after climbing highest to head an in swinging corner from Declan Rice.

He could have made it two with another header from a corner minutes later, but got his neck twist all wrong.

It was the Gabriel show for most of the first half with the defender getting involved in a few disputes with the ref about 50-50 fouls.

The Arsenal Number 6 looked to have grabbed a second from another corner – but replays showed his header was flapped back into the goal by Henderson.

There was a muted atmosphere throughout most of the early kick off fixture with fans’ expectations low following two goalless defeats.

The opening exchanges saw a botched David Raya clearance went straight to Will Hughes who had more time than he realised and spurned his shot.

Jesus ballooned a shot way over the bar and there were two trickled shots hit from outside the box from Trossard, who also had a very clumsy miss just before his goal.

Palace were poor and got booed by their own fans at half time.

But Eberechi Eze is a class above his teammates and always looked capable of getting his name on the score sheet.

A large black and whit banner saying “Wasted Potential On And Off The Pitch, Weak Decisions, Taking Us Backwards”.

Roy Hodgson looks like he could he next for the chop.

Arteta added: “I’m really pleased with the clean sheet, it’s something we have been missing.”

The Gunners – just back from a holiday in Dubai – have a ten day break while other teams in the Carabao semi finals and FA Cup fourth round.

Arsenal: Raya, Saliba, White, Gabriel (Kiwior 80), Jesus (Nketiah 80), Odegaard, Trossard (Martinelli 68), Havertz (Rowe 68), Zinchenko, Rice (Jorginho 75).
Subs not used: Ramsdale, Soares, Jorginho, Nelson, Walters

Crystal Palace: Henderson, Mitchel, Guehi (Tomkins 86), Lerma, Eze, Mateta, Schlupp, Andersen, Clyne, Hughes (Ozoh 67), Richards
Subs not used: Johnstone, de Oliviera, Edoard, Ebiowei, Ahomada, Riedewald, Adaramala