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      Report: Palace fall to defeat at Arsenal

      Arsenal
      4
      Gabriel Martinelli 28'
      Saka 43' 74'
      Xhaka 55'
      1
      Crystal Palace
      Schlupp 63'

      Crystal Palace fell to a 4-1 defeat away to Premier League leaders Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

      As it happened:

      • Three changes for Palace, with Ward, Tomkins and Milivojevic all starting
      • Palace begin brightly as Zaha hits inside of the post
      • Edouard runs clear but is denied by Ramsdale, before being flagged offside
      • Whitworth saves from fizzing Ødegaard strike in open start to the game
      • Martinelli opens the scoring after half-an-hour with powerful shot across goal
      • Hosts finish the half strongly
      • Saka slots home Arsenal’s second on the stroke of half-time
      • HT: Arsenal 2-0 Palace
      • Ward gets in the way of Saka cross-shot
      • Rising drive from Zaha troubles Ramsdale at near post
      • Xhaka prods in a third to set Arsenal clear
      • Schlupp slams home to pull one back after an hour
      • Zaha fires narrowly wide having been fed by Schlupp
      • Saka ends comeback hopes with sweeping low finish
      • FT: Arsenal 4-1 Palace

      Coach Paddy McCarthy made three changes to his starting XI for the trip to the Emirates Stadium, two of which were enforced.

      Ward came into the side at right-back, with Tomkins a late replacement for Joachim Andersen – the Denmark defender pulling out in the warm-up – and captain Milivojevic starting in place of the ineligible Sambi Lokonga.

      Arsenal have been widely recognised for the quality of their build-up play this season, but it was the Eagles who impressed early on at the Emirates, some snappy one-touch play freeing their attackers to drive at a nervy home defence.

      Indeed, Palace could consider themselves highly unfortunate not to have taken the lead with 11 minutes on the clock.

      A quick ball forwards from Schlupp allowed Zaha to drive towards Ben White outside the box and, cutting inside, the winger hit a fierce low shot which struck the inside of Ramsdale’s near post.

      True to Palace’s luck of late, the rebound pinged back off Ramsdale’s head – only to roll narrowly wide.

      Moments later and that rapid play almost paid dividends once more, Palace’s one-touch passing from back-to-front culminating in Olise sliding through Edouard. The Frenchman took a touch before placing his finish, but was denied by Ramsdale, before a late offside flag was raised.

      Hackneyed cliché it may be, but the league table does not lie, and as the half wore on, Arsenal began to exert the quality which has taken them five points clear at this stage of the campaign.

      Ødegaard was first to come close with a fizzing, dipping strike from 25 yards which forced Whitworth into a sharp two-handed save, punching away from Bukayo Saka on the rebound.

      But it was only with their first real chance of the match that Arsenal opened the scoring.

      A clipped cross from Saka bounced all the way across the edge of the penalty area and was collected by Gabriel Martinelli, who took one touch on the outside of Ward before hammering a rasping left-footed finish across goal and into the bottom corner.

      The goal gave Arsenal confidence and they went on to dominate the remainder of the half, adding a second when Saka exchanged passes with White inside the box and – jinking inside a challenge – slid a low shot past Whitworth into the net.

      It was a harsh end to a largely promising first-half from Palace, but it was the hosts who started the second period the brighter when Saka’s cross-shot required a goal-line block from Ward moments after the restart.

      Zaha was continuing to threaten at the other end, a fierce rising drive causing Ramsdale some consternation, but Palace’s hopes of a comeback were dispelled when Xhaka - under heavy pressure from Ward - managed to divert Trossard's pass beyond Whitworth and into the bottom corner.

      To their credit, Palace continued fighting, enjoying a strong spell subsequent to the goal.

      Hopes of an unlikely comeback were kick-started after 63 minutes when Olise’s corner kick bounced off Odegaard’s midriff invitingly for Schlupp to hammer home from six yards.

      They might have had another moments later when the No. 15 slid in Zaha making a diagonal run, but squeezing between defender and goalkeeper, his low shot somehow evaded the far post.

      Sadly, however, those hopes were quashed with 15 minutes remaining when Saka – in frightening form – swept home from near the penalty spot after a pull-back from Kieran Tierney.

      The hosts continued to press for further goals, and the Eagles continued to fight until the last, but Saka’s was the last of the goals in north London.

      Arsenal: Ramsdale (GK), White (Jorginho 82), Gabriel (Kiwior 86), Holding, Zinchenko (Tierney 64), Xhaka, Ødegaard, Partey, Saka, Trossard (Jesus 64), Martinelli (Smith Rowe 82)

      Subs: Turner (GK), Fabio Vieira, Nelson, Walters

      Palace: Whitworth (GK), Ward, Guéhi, Tomkins, Mitchell, Milivojevic (Ayew 64), Doucouré, Schlupp (Ahamada 82), Olise (Eze 82), Zaha, Edouard (Hughes 64)

      Subs: Goodman (GK), Riedewald, Richards, Clyne, Mateta

      Full-time

      Arsenal take the three points in north London.

      90+3 mins

      Eze sees a low strike from inside the box well saved by Ramsdale - but Zaha was offside in the build-up.

      90+1 mins

      Palace go long and appear to be in with a long ball for Zaha, but the ball holds up and Holding gets back to clear behind.

      The corner comes in for Tomkins but he is unable to keep it in play at the far post.

      90 mins

      Four minutes of added time signalled.

      88 mins

      Palace clip the ball into the box from a deep free-kick and Tomkins slides onto it, but can't connect cleanly and it's a simple enough save for Ramsdale.

      86 mins

      Another Arsenal change: Gabriel off, on comes Kiwior.

      More substitutions

      82 mins

      Olise is off for Palace - on comes Eze.

      Schlupp also comes off for Ahamada.

      For Arsenal, White departs to be replaced by Jorginho. Off comes Martinelli for Smith Rowe.

      80 mins

      Arsenal now well on top.

      A fine intervention from Tomkins denies Saka his hat-trick, before Jesus goes down claiming a penalty. Not given.

      Palace readying two more changes...

      Saka scores Arsenal's fourth

      74 mins

      Tierney cuts back to Saka near the penalty spot, and the No. 7 sweeps home clinically.

      Zaha- ohhhh!

      72 mins

      So close to another!

      Ramsdale's clearance is poor and Schlupp intercepts. He feeds Zaha's diagonal run in behind...

      Arcing his run, the winger slips a low finish beyond Ramsdale... but also the far post! The angle was always against him, but it's another promising sign...

      COME ON PALACE!

      66 mins

      A nervy moment for Palace as Arsenal launch an aerial offensive and Whitworth needs two tries to punch the ball away - but he does so brilliantly under pressure.

      Moments later and Jesus - fresh off the bench - nods a corner wide under pressure from Ward at the far stick.

      Zaha's moved up top for Palace, with Ayew now on the left wing.

      Two changes for Palace

      64 mins

      Edouard and Milivojevic off, Ayew and Hughes on.

      Arsenal make two changes as well: Trossard and Zinchenko off, Kieran Tierney and Gabriel Jesus on.

      Schupp scores!

      61 mins

      Olise delivers a corner, it bounces off the midriff of Odegaard in a crowded penalty area, and Schlupp hammers it home from close range!

      A route back in?

      There's a VAR check for handball... but the goal is given!

      Yellow card

      59 mins

      Trossard knocks it past Tomkins and is brought down. Booking for the Palace man.

      3-0 to Arsenal - Xhaka

      56 mins

      It's an unfortunate one from a Palace perspective.

      Xhaka exchanges passes with Odegaard, sprints into the penalty box and prepares to shoot. Ward tackles him - but the Switzerland international gets there a fraction earlier and prods past Whitworth.

      That might be that.

      Close from Zaha!

      53 mins

      What a hit from the No. 11!

      Nothing really seems to be on when Zaha collects Ward's raking pass to the left wing, but the winger takes a touch outside of White and smashes a rising drive towards the near post which Ramsdale is forced to turn behind for a corner!

      The set-piece is subsequently cleared... but it's another bright start to the half from the Eagles.

      51 mins

      Penalty appeal for Palace!

      Zaha dances inside two players and carries it into the penalty area. As he shapes to shoot, he takes one more touch and an Arsenal defender appears to go through the back of him to win the ball...

      Referee Stuart Attwell isn't convinced. Nothing doing.

      47 mins

      Fast start from the hosts as Saka jinks past his man and fires a low shot across goal - cleared off the line by Ward.

      Back underway

      46 mins

      Arsenal get the second-half underway.

      Half-time

      The best images from the first-half at Emirates Stadium:

      Half-time

      There's the whistle.

      Work to be done after the break by Palace.

      45 mins

      Two added minutes signalled as Partey bends a low shot past the far post - Whitworth had it covered.

      A tough end to the first-half, after a really bright opening from Palace.

      Saka scores

      43 mins

      Arsenal two goals to the good now.

      Saka exchanges passes with White, collects the return and slides a low finish beyond Whitworth.

      A long way back now...

      41 mins

      Pressure mounting now.

      Arsenal have a couple of admittedly well-worked crosses cleared by Guéhi and Doucouré, before it falls for Odegaard on the edge of the box.

      He jinks inside two tackles before firing a low effort which... just about clears Whitworth's bottom-left corner. Phew.

      39 mins

      Chance for Arsenal. Odegaard delivers, Partey is first to it at the near-post... but his glancing effort loops well wide, in the end.

      37 mins

      Trossard pulls out wide, is found by a throw-in, and plays the ball off Mitchell for an Arsenal corner.

      Saka to take as the hosts finish the half strongly... great header clear first by Doucouré, then by Mitchell under pressure in the middle.

      But Arsenal win another free-kick, and another chance to deliver...

      33 mins

      That goal appears to have given Arsenal renewed belief, as they're moving the ball quicker now around the park.

      Important for Palace to reassert themselves in this game now - they made a brilliant start and showed they can hurt the north London team.

      Goal for Arsenal - Martinelli

      28 mins

      The hosts have the lead. Saka clips the ball across the box, it bounces in front of Martinelli, who takes one touch outside of Ward and - with real venom - hits a rasping finish past Whitworth and into the bottom corner.

      Harsh on Palace.

      25 mins

      I tell you what, we've played some nice stuff to get on the front foot so far.

      Schlupp links up brilliantly with Zaha in the centre-circle, freeing the latter to drive at the home defenders. He then plays it onto Edouard, whose low ball in doesn't quite find Zaha at the near post.

      Up the other end and Olise makes a brilliant recovery sliding tackle on Trossard. Excellent desire from the young No. 7, who made up a lot of ground to get back.

      23 mins

      Xhaka teases a cross in, but Guéhi - called up by England earlier this week - heads clear, before Ward tidies up.

      Olise then buys a free-kick off Leandro Trossard. Good defensive work all-round.

      Good save Whitworth!

      19 mins

      Ward miscues his clearance from White's ball in and it falls to Odegaard, 25 yards from goal.

      The Arsenal captain shoots left-footed, dipping towards the bottom corner - Whitworth gets two solid fists to it to prevent Saka cleaning up the rebound!

      What a few days for the 19-year-old.

      Chance - Edouard... offside!

      16 mins

      It's seemingly another massive chance for Palace!

      Lovely one-touch play from back-to-front involving Doucouré sees Olise slide Edouard clean through on goal.

      The Frenchman opens his body up with Gabriel closing in on him, and goes to place it into the far corner... Ramsdale smothers the low strike.

      It later transpires that Edouard was offside... but it will have been narrow.

      Up the other end, Whitworth confidently claims Martinelli's clipped cross.

      Keep going, lads!

      14 mins

      End to end, this one.

      Saka appears to have been played through by White, but across comes Ward to cover and clear the danger.

      ZAHA OFF THE POST!

      11 mins

      Ohhhh!

      It's inches away for Palace, with Schlupp playing a low first-time ball through for Zaha to take on White. The winger checks inside his man and shoots low towards the near post... off the inside of the woodwork!

      It bounces off the post and hits the back of Ramsdale and... squirms out for a corner!

      Arsenal clear the subsequent set-piece. So close!

      6 mins

      The early indications are that Palace are playing 4-3-3 with Schlupp joining Doucouré and Milivojevic in midfield, and Edouard as the lone striker.

      We've been pressing high up the pitch in these early stages and giving Arsenal little time on the ball, which is aptly demonstrated just now as Mitchell forces Saka to miscue a cross from the right wing wildly behind.

      3 mins

      Excellent defending from Ward after Martinelli had seemingly wriggled free inside the Palace box.

      The No. 2 watches the aerial ball al the way and gets a toe in just in time.

      Moments later, Saka attempts to cut inside from the right to shoot, but finds himself foiled by Doucouré.

      Kick-off

      1 min

      Palace get us underway here at the Emirates!

      13:56

      'Eagles!' is drowning out the tannoy from where we're sat in the press box.

      Another excellent away following from the Palace faithful, as the two teams take to their respective ends of the pitch.

      13:52

      The warm-ups have wound down and we're moments away from kick-off, with the atmosphere building nicely inside Emirates Stadium.

      It's been a tricky run for us, there's no denying - but we've every fighting chance this afternoon, against an Arsenal team who played 120 minutes and penalties on Thursday night, of finishing for the March international break with a flourish.

      Let's finish loud, proud and PALACE!

      A late change to our line-up

      13:45

      Joachim Andersen pulls out of the warm-up - he'll be replaced in our XI by James Tomkins.

      Jairo Riedewald takes Tomkins' place on the bench.

      Palace: Whitworth (GK), Ward, Guéhi, Tomkins, Mitchell, Milivojevic, Doucouré, Schlupp, Olise, Zaha, Edouard

      Subs: Goodman (GK), Riedewald, Richards, Clyne, Hughes, Ahamada, Eze, Ayew, Mateta

      McCarthy speaks to the media

      13:30

      “It was pretty hectic [for me] to begin with, but the lads have responded really well to our messages.

      "We've tried to bring as much clarification and motivation to the boys under difficult circumstances, but they’re in a good place now. We come here with belief today in what we’ve got as a squad, and the work we’ve done over the last couple of days.

      “I’ve just pushed all the emotion to the side. I’ve been too busy to have any emotion about anything other than focusing on getting the team ready. That’s all it’s been about. Probably tonight, when I sit back on my sofa with hopefully a glass of wine, celebrating fingers crossed, then I can reflect on it.

      “We’ll respect what Arsenal have got in their team. They’ve got matchwinners all over the place. We’ll try and nullify that today, but also we have great belief in our attacking threats in our team, so we’ll try and get them the ball and hopefully make things happen."

      13:20

      Joel Ward has been speaking to the media ahead of the game…

      “There’s no doubt that the players are focused on what’s ahead of us. Our full focus is on the games that we have in hand, and making sure we give a good account of ourselves.

      “He’s come in and he’s ready to go. He’s implemented his way of wanting to do things and wants to put his foundations down and give us the best option and best chance of going out there today to make things right, turn things around and get off to a good start.

      “We know where Arsenal are and the threats that they possess, but we want to focus on us and make sure that we implement our gameplan. I think if we can do that, there’s no reason we can’t go toe-to-toe with them.”

      The Palace are in town

      13:10

      The teams are in

      13:00

      Paddy McCarthy has made two changes to Crystal Palace’s starting XI to face Premier League leaders Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon.

      Joel Ward comes into the side to start at right-back, with Nathaniel Clyne moving to the bench, while captain Luka Milivojevic replaces Sambi Lokonga – the loanee ineligible to face his parent club – in midfield.

      Those developments mean that 19-year-old Whitworth makes his second senior career appearance in the space of five days – the first-ever Palace goalkeeper to do so in front of crowds of over 30,000 and, expectedly, 60,000.

      He will be protected by a backline of Ward, Marc Guéhi, Joachim Andersen and Tyrick Mitchell, with Milivojevic, Cheick Doucouré and Jeffrey Schlupp ahead of them in midfield.

      Odsonne Edouard starts up-front at a ground where he scored Palace’s first goal in a 2-2 draw last season, and is likely to be supported by Michael Olise and Wilfried Zaha, who will be hoping to add to his two goals and five assists in previous iterations of this fixture.

      Arsenal: Ramsdale (GK), White, Gabriel, Holding, Zinchenko, Xhaka, Ødegaard, Partey, Saka, Trossard, Martinelli<br> Subs: Turner (GK), Tierney, Jorginho, Fabio Vieira, Nelson, Walters, Smith Rowe, Kiwior, Jesus

      Palace: Whitworth (GK), Ward, Guéhi, Andersen, Mitchell, Milivojevic, Doucouré, Schlupp, Olise, Zaha, Edouard<br> Subs: Goodman (GK), Tomkins, Richards, Clyne, Hughes, Ahamada, Eze, Ayew, Mateta

      12:55

      Five minutes until Paddy McCarthy names Palace's starting XI - stay tuned!

      12:50

      In case you missed the news... the Premier League has confirmed that Crystal Palace’s away match with Leeds United will now take place a day later than originally scheduled.

      The match will now kick-off at Elland Road at 14:00 BST on Sunday, 9th April, 2023, shown live on Sky Sports.

      This change is due to the participation of Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League the following Tuesday, which has caused their televised Premier League match to be brought forward.

      Whilst supporters were advised on 21st February that Palace’s fixture against Leeds was subject to further change due to Champions League involvement for other clubs the following week, we recognise the impact such a change can have on our loyal supporters who were intending to travel. We sincerely thank you for your unwavering support.

      The club intend to provide a limited amount of free coach travel for the fixture, and will confirm booking details and capacity as soon as possible.

      Tickets for the match are due to go on sale next week. Stay close to cpfc.co.uk and the club’s Twitter, Instagram and official App to be notified further of their release in due course.

      The first meeting this weekend...

      12:40

      It's already been a winning weekend for Palace against Arsenal at Under-21s level.

      On a sunny Friday afternoon at Copers Cope, our U21s extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to six games after managing to overcome Arsenal with an Ademola Ola-Adebomi brace. You can watch highlights of that one below.

      Then, yesterday, our Under-18s furthered that winning feeling, putting five past Leicester City at Copers Cope. A brace apiece from Zach Marsh and David Obou, topped off with a late Junior Dixon goal, saw the young Eagles take all three points.

      U21 Match Highlights: Crystal Palace 2-0 Arsenal

      Palace's youngest 'keepers

      12:30

      A boyhood dream was realised for lifelong Crystal Palace fan Joe Whitworth on Wednesday night – and at Brighton & Hove Albion, no less.

      Making the first senior appearance of his career at the age of 19 years and 15 days-old, Whitworth impressed in defeat at the Amex Stadium, making particularly fine saves from Pervis Estupiñán and Alexis Mac Allister in particular.

      The teenager’s tender years also saw him go down in the record books as Palace’s youngest-ever Premier League goalkeeper, and fifth-youngest of all-time.

      Find out the story of Palace's five youngest 'keepers here.

      McCarthy reflects on preparations

      12:20

      Paddy McCarthy was pleased with Crystal Palace’s preparations in training ahead of today's game.

      The former club captain, and current U21s Head Coach, has led first-team training along with U21s Assistant Coach Darren Powell and goalkeeping coach Dean Kiely, and will lead the side for today's game following the departure of Patrick Vieira.

      Speaking to Palace TV, McCarthy said of the session: “Under strange circumstances, the lads showed good energy and enthusiasm.

      “We tried to implement some ideas, but we’re obviously mindful that they’re still recovering from the game the other night at Brighton, and we’re preparing for Sunday against Arsenal.

      “It was good to get on the grass. The boys were excellent. They received our messages really well, so I was pleased coming off the pitch.”

      Having previously coached with the first-team during pre-season, McCarthy knows the squad’s talent well, recognising: “There’s an abundance of talent in the group – I know that, I think everybody knows that – and they’ve shown it in games over the course of the season.

      “They showed a lot of quality last year getting to the semi-finals of the [FA] Cup, so there’s definite quality in the group, and we just have to try our best to get that out of them.”

      You can read the full interview here, or watch it below.

      Paddy McCarthy Interview

      How to follow

      12:10

      Today's match will not be broadcast live on television in the UK – but fear not, as subscribers to Palace TV+ will be able to tune in to LIVE audio commentary of the fixture, on web and on the official Palace app. Click HERE to subscribe.

      Otherwise, you can follow the game via this live blog and our Match Centre, where as well as a range of stats and facts, you can also find every piece of build-up to the game you could possibly need.

      Then, one hour before kick-off (16:30 GMT), attention will turn to team news across all our web, app and social (Twitter and Instagram) channels.

      And every club channel will fill with content post-match, right from the final whistle. Stay tuned!

      Find out more about how to follow today's game.

      Good afternoon...

      12:00

      ... and welcome to the Emirates Stadium, where Palace are completing their final preparations ahead of taking on Arsenal!

      At the end of a run of challenging fixtures prior to March's international break, today we face arguably our toughest test of the lot, tackling the Premier League leaders who are on a run of five straight league victories.

      Nevertheless, the form book tends to go out of the window when it comes to London derbies, with Palace having everything to play for in N4 this afternoon - including the chance to make it five consecutive games unbeaten at this ground.

      We're all set, then, for another absorbing occasion - and you can follow all the latest live updates right here! Join me in saying...

      COME ON PALACE!