Arsenal v Crystal Palace (2013-14)

Arsenal v Crystal Palace was a match which took place at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday 2nd February 2014.
Arsenal went back top of the Premier League with victory over a dogged Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium.
Following a goalless first half, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain got his first of the season when he finished calmly after intelligent play from Santi Cazorla.
Palace could have had an equaliser but Cameron Jerome's diving header was excellently saved by Wojciech Szczesny.
Oxlade-Chamberlain then doubled his tally for the season after he combined with team-mate Olivier Giroud.
The result takes Arsenal back above Manchester City, although Manuel Pellegrini's side can in turn regain top spot if they beat Chelsea at Etihad Stadium on Monday.
But Arsenal, bidding to win the title for the first time since 2003-04, gained a vital three points to move two clear with Liverpool and Manchester United the opponents in their next two league games.
Oxlade-Chamberlain's last goal before this match came at the Maracana last June as England drew 2-2 with Brazil in Rio.
But the 20-year-old, who missed four months of the season with a knee injury, was the difference between Arsenal and Palace here, and could yet be returning to Brazil in the summer as part of Roy Hodgson's World Cup squad.
It had looked like being a disappointing afternoon for Gunners boss Arsene Wenger as Tony Pulis's Palace side appeared content to play for a point.
The defensive tactics worked in the opening half as a well-organised away side frustrated the hosts and sucked the entertainment out of the game.
Palace's Argentine keeper Julian Speroni blocked a low shot from Serge Gnabry and pushed out Ozil's floated free-kick, which had missed everyone and was heading towards the far corner of the net.
The Eagles' only first-half chance fell to Marouane Chamakh, but the Moroccan, who scored 14 goals in 67 appearances in just over three years with the Gunners, wasted the opportunity with a heavy first touch.
It was a game to forget for the striker, who was also at fault for Arsenal's first goal, which came less than two minutes after the restart.
He failed to track Oxlade-Chamberlain and the unmarked midfielder, making a first Premier League start since the opening-day defeat by Aston Villa, collected Cazorla's ball over the defence and shot past Speroni.
Palace have scored the fewest goals in the division - 15 in 24 games now - but might have been level within five minutes.
Yannick Bolasie's excellent cross from the left wing found Jerome, whose header from inside the six-yard box was blocked by the Arsenal goalkeeper.
That proved Palace's one chance of getting back into the game and Oxlade-Chamberlain grabbed his second on 73 minutes when he played a one-two with Olivier Giroud, outpaced the Palace defence and shot home to secure the win.
== Match ==
=== Details ===
	
{| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"	Arsenal: 	Arsenal: 	
 	 	 	
1 	Wojciech Szczęsny 	 	
3 	Bacary Sagna 	 	
17 	Nacho Monreal 	 	
8 	Mikel Arteta 	 	
4 	Per Mertesacker 	 	
6 	Laurent Koscielny 	 	
19 	Santi Cazorla 	 	
15 	Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain	 	
12 	Olivier Giroud 	 	
11 	Mesut Özil 	 	
9 	Lukas Podolski 	 	
Substitutes: 	Substitutes: 	Substitutes: 	Substitutes:
7 	Tomas Rosicky 	 	
21 	Lukasz Fabianski 	 	
23 	Nicklas Bendtner 	 	
25 	Carl Jenkinson 	 	
28 	Kieran Gibbs 	 	
44 	Serge Gnabry 	 	
58 	Gideon Zelalem 	 	
Manager: 	Manager: 	Manager: 	Manager:
Arsene Wenger	Arsene Wenger 	Arsene Wenger	Arsene Wenger
==See also==
*2013-14 Premier League: Match day 24
*Arsenal F.C.
*Crystal Palace F.C.
==External links==
*Match report at BBC.co.uk
__NOTOC__
Category:2013-14 Match Day info
Category:Arsenal F.C. matches
Category:Crystal Palace F.C. matches