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Crystal Palace vs Arsenal Match Report

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Zaha kissing his hand after scoring the penalty against Arsenal

Crystal Palace hosted Arsenal at Selhurst Park on Monday night and managed to thump the Gunners 3-0! This makes Palace unbeaten in the last seven matches and will give the players huge confidence going into the next match with Leicester and the FA Cup semi-final with Chelsea. Before the game Palace were 3/1 underdogs as Arsenal were expected to get the win as they’re competing for a place in next year’s Champions League.

Zaha and Olise were both doubts going into the match, but Zaha featured and got his goal after being brought down for the penalty. Vieira stated in his post-match press conference that Michael Olise’s foot injury will most likely keep him out of the next game too. Jordan Ayew started on the right-wing and looked hungry to show what he can do when called upon. 

Keep reading to see the key points of the match and you can also see our player ratings for the team by following that link.

First Half

  • Palace started well taking the game to Arsenal. Within minutes Ramsdale who has just got back from an injury was being pressured by Gallagher and making an error.
  • Arsenal had some early breaks themselves though with Lacazette and Smith-Rowe almost linking up for the England international to get a chance on goal.
  • Clyne tried to play in Zaha on the right, but it didn’t come off. Still, there were early signs that Palace were brimming with confidence.
  • Lacazette again with a nice ball this time to Saka on Arsenal’s right-wing, but Mitchell read it well and was able to intercept.
  • Arsenal managed to get more of the ball, but Palace’s structure remained strong making it hard to break them down.
  • Zaha was brought down for Palace’s first free-kick of the match by Ben White even though he had his back to the goal and was over 30 yards out. No need for it, but it led to this…
  • Conor Gallagher delivered the free-kick deep to the back post where it hit an Arsenal defender and then Andersen on the head, but it went back across the penalty area for JP Mateta to head it past Ramsdale. Not the finest assist, but a goal nonetheless, Palace 1-0 up in the 16th minute of the match.
  • Palace looked even more confident after this goal with Zaha doing tricks on the left-wing.
  • Palace kept up the press and in the 24th minute, they went 2 up with another assist from centre-half Andersen. Mitchell went back to Guehi with the throw-in and was immediately calm under pressure from Lacazette in Arsenal’s half managing to play it back to Andersen on the halfway line. He let the ball run across his body before hitting it first time to Jordan Ayew who had made a great run inside took one touch and then slotted it home with his left foot.
  • Gallagher was back defending as Partey went to strike an effort on goal but the England international successfully blocked it. The ball fell to Saka who crossed it in but Lacazette couldn’t find the target with his header.
  • Arsenal had more of the ball with Smith-Rowe trying to make ground on the left side but Clyne stood him up and nothing came from it.
  • Schlupp played in Zaha down the left-centre but White managed to cover an effort on goal so he cut it back to Mateta on the edge of the area who had a shot on goal, but Ramsdale managed to parry it away to safety.
  • Right before half-time Palace were almost allowing Arsenal to keep the ball in the middle of the pitch as they weren’t creating any dangerous attacks with it.

Second Half

  • Arteta took off left-back Tavares and brought on Martinelli at half-time for some extra firepower, but this meant that Xhaka had to move to left-back.
  • Martinelli immediately looked like a threat dribbling outside the Palace penalty area before laying off Lacazette who claims he was fouled in the area, but the referee waved it away. The VAR check was over quickly as it clearly wasn’t a penalty.
  • Gallagher shows great energy again pressing Ramsdale after he took a heavy touch from Gabriel’s shinned back-pass.
  • Schlupp went on a great run warding off three Arsenal players before Thomas Partey was forced to bring him down on the edge of the area and get a yellow card.
  • Andersen stepped up to take the free-kick and drove it on target but straight at Aaron Ramsdale who saved it easily.
  • Saka looked like the one player who could create something out of nothing for Arsenal, as he managed to skip past Mitchell, cut inside and then have an effort on goal that sailed too high over.
  • Martinelli was the other Arsenal thread who looked lively on the left, he managed to find Lacazette who lost the ball but it fell to Smith-Rowe who had a soft chance easily saved by Guaita.
  • Arsenal had another chance from this left side with Nketiah and Saka linking up and eventually finding Odegaard in the area, but his effort went wide of the goal.
  • In the 69th minute, Vieira made his first change bringing on McArthur for goalscorer Mateta. A defensive switch as the Eagles manager didn’t want a repeat of earlier in the season at the Emirates Stadium.
  • Arsenal had the majority of the possession in the second half, but couldn’t manage to do a whole lot with it.
  • Nketiah made another cross from Arsenal’s left side, but Mitchell managed to clear it towards the halfway line. Zaha took the ball from Partey and drove at the Arsenal defence before being taken down in the box by Odegaard who had tracked back to defend. The referee waited a few seconds and then gave the penalty. VAR check didn’t take long as it was clear that Zaha’s standing leg was pulled away from under him.
  • Zaha stepped up to take the penalty and made Ramsdale go the wrong way, 3-0 to the Eagles!
  • A few minutes after the goal Palace made a second change with Edouard on for Ayew. Partey also came off for Lokonga for Arsenal.
  • Saka caused more trouble down the left forcing Guaita to make a save which then fell to Smith-Rowe who had his effort blocked by Guehi. Palace were lucky to not concede, but the referee blew for offside after this anyway.
  • Palace made their final change with Milivojevic coming on for Kouyate in the centre of the park.
  • The last real Arsenal chance came from Xhaka who had a 30-yard drive on goal but Guaita could easily watch it fly over.
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Match Reports

Crystal Palace vs Southampton Match Report & Highlights

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Odsonne Edouard scoring against Southampton

Crystal Palace hosted Southampton for the Saturday afternoon match and came away with their third consecutive home win. In-form striker Odsonne Edouard scored the only goal of the match in the first half and then Palace defended well in the second half.

It was The Eagles’ final home match before the league stops for the World Cup so it was a vital win going into the final two Premier League matches.

Keep reading to see the match summary and the highlights at the end.

First Half

  • Palace got an early free-kick after Zaha was brought down just outside the area. Milivojevic took it, but it was too close to the goal for the ball to get enough dip and be on target.
  • A dangerous corner from James Ward-Prowse left the Palace defence scrambling to get the ball clear.
  • Olise was brought down cynically and then delivered the ball into the area, but the keeper comfortably punched it out for a corner.
  • Another foul for Palace when Joel Ward was barged off the ball down the right-hand side. Olise’s delivery was well-defended though.
  • Schlupp managed to turn the defender and sprint into Southampton’s penalty area before cutting it back for Milivojevic who had his shot deflected out.
  • A beautiful touch from Eze allowed him to play Zaha in on the left, who squared it for Edouard, but the Frenchman couldn’t get a touch on it to slot it home. He may well have been offside anyway had it gone in.
  • Palace had a penalty shout as Olise appeared to be brought down in the area. On second look, there wasn’t enough in it for it to be a foul.
  • Che Adams was through on goal with Andersen tracking back. The Southampton striker managed to get a shot off and hit the post, but the linesman finally put up his flag for offside.
  • Palace played it around nicely, with Milivojevic finding Eze who had a long-distance effort saved and out for a corner.
  • Moments later Eze had another effort on goal, although Edouard and Zaha were both screaming for the ball.
  • Palace managed to score, but Olise was offside in the build-up to the goal so Edouard’s nutmeg through the keeper’s legs was chalked off.
  • Palace should’ve been in front with all these chances and another fell to Andersen from a corner, but the header was comfortable for Buzunu.
  • Finally, Palace took the lead through a well-worked goal. Zaha won the ball back and played in Mitchell down the left before cutting it back for Edouard to poke it home. 1-0 to The Eagles.

Second Half

  • Elyounoussi had an early effort on goal in the second half and the Southampton players were shouting for handball. VAR decided no penalty as the ball hit Guehi’s foot before touching his hand.
  • Down the other end, Olise was running at The Saints’ defence and ended up unleashing an effort with his weaker right foot. The shot was blocked and Edouard was offside when picking up the rebound.
  • Palace were under pressure in the second half. Adams won a header against Andersen to find Ward-Prowse who then played a great through ball back to him only for Guaita to make a crucial to keep Palace in the lead.
  • Another chance for The Saints as Armstrong travelled down the left flank and unleashed an effort on goal only for Guaita to make another top save.
  • Moments later Armstrong had another effort on goal, this time hitting the outside of the post and then coming back and hitting Ward for a corner.
  • Zaha had a lot of time running at the Southampton left-back that he took too long and saw his poor left-footed effort easily blocked.
  • Mitchell gave the ball away in a dangerous area and Southampton were able to get an effort on goal, but Guaita made another vital save.
  • Jordan Ayew attacked down the right wing and managed to find a cross into Schlupp, but a Southampton defender blocked it.
  • Olise broke away from his man in the Palace half and made ground before finding Ayew. The Ghana international had so much time, but couldn’t pick out Zaha in the middle! Really should’ve been 2-0 with the match over.

Crystal Palace vs Southampton Highlights

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Match Reports

Crystal Palace vs Wolves Match Report & Highlights

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Eze celebrating his goal with Olise in the background

Crystal Palace managed to get their second win in three matches on Tuesday night when they faced Wolves at home. The Eagles went behind in the first half but returned in the second half with Eze and Zaha getting on the scoresheet.

Keep reading to see the key match points and the highlights at the end.

First half

  • Early on Doucoure almost got his first goal for the Eagles when he smacked the post from a long-range effort.
  • Diego Costa should have scored for Wolves, but Ward stuck with him and Guaita made a vital save.
  • Wolves had another effort on goal, but it was deflected wide for a corner.
  • Olise and Eze stood over the ball for a free kick and Eye took it and fired it wide.
  • Andersen had an effort on goal after Eze’s second delivery in from a corner.
  • A quick cross-in from Wolves led to the first goal of the game, Traore headed home from close range.
  • On the edge of halftime, Schlupp found Zaha but he couldn’t keep his shot down blazing it over with his left foot.
  • Doucoure was the first Palace player in the book after bringing down Traore on a run on goal.
  • Palace got lucky when Ruben Neves smacked the post from the free kick of this foul. That was half-time.

Second half

  • Within two minutes of the restart, Palace equalised through a great team goal that started with Eze in the middle of the pitch and ended with Olise crossing it to him to head home. Clearly, Vieira’s half-time team talk pushed the players to fight back fast.
  • Edouard couldn’t get enough on his shot to work the keeper and the ball didn’t fall right for Olise. Ward followed it up but was penalised for a foul on the Wolves keeper.
  • Zaha showed great strength and resilience when he battled three Wolves players in his own half and came away with the ball. This led to some great build-up play and finally an acrobatic bicycle-kick effort from Edouard who wasn’t far off the goal. It would’ve been one of the goals of the season had it gone in.
  • Andersen played a great ball to Mitchell to attack the Wolves’ penalty area. The ball fell to Eze who set up Zaha, but Jose Sa made a comfortable save.
  • Moments later, Eze played a great through ball to Edouard who then found Zaha in the middle. He had another time to take a touch and then smash it past the keeper, 2-1 Palace.
  • Late on down the other end though, Wolves still posed a threat when Collins missed a sitter. The referee did blow for offside though so it wouldn’t have counted if he did score.

Crystal Palace vs Wolves Highlights

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Match Reports

Leicester vs Crystal Palace Match Report & Highlights

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Olise under pressure from Dewsbury-Hall

The match between Crystal Palace and Leicester was one that we didn’t want to rewatch on Match of the Day. It ended in a 0-0 draw with the match being very scrappy and Palace only having one shot on target in the match.

If Leicester had more confidence on the day they would’ve won easily so Palace were lucky to come away with a point. As Milivojevic said after the game, the positive to take away from the game is that it’s a clean sheet away from home.

Palace now host Wolves at home on Tuesday night and Vieira will hope his team can get into better-attacking positions then.

Keep reading for the brief match summary points as well as the highlights.

First half

  • The ball came to Doucoure on the edge of the area who then found Zaha but he got too much under the ball and it went much too high.
  • Down the other end, Daka, tested Guaita with a powerful shot but the Spaniard easily parried it away for a corner.
  • Guehi had a chance to put Palace ahead but he headed it over the bar when he really should’ve found the target. He looked frustrated with himself.
  • Zaha found Eze in the middle of the pitch with enough time and space to line up a shot and forced Danny Ward to make a save.

Second half

  • Milivojevic and Riedewald on for Mitchell and Doucoure
  • Castagne had an effort from long range but it was a comfortable catch for Guaita.
  • Maddison then watched a scuffed effort dribble past the post.
  • Patient build-up from Palace led to Edouard having a good effort on goal, but Leicester’s keeper saved it easily.
  • Zaha came off for Mateta, the Ivory Coast international wasn’t happy about being taken off, but he never got into the match.
  • Maddison’s corner into Castagne caused a scare for palace fans but Guaita handled it well.
  • Iheahanacho’s effort on goal from a short corner
  • A minute later the Nigerian international caused more trouble with Dewsbury-Hall going close and claiming handball.
  • Maddison went down in the area in stoppage time from a challenge from Milivojevic but the referee saw it clearly and immediately booked Maddison for simulation.

Leicester vs Crystal Palace Highlights

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