Arsenal coasted to a 5-0 win over Crystal Palace to draw a line under their pre-winter break struggles.
Gabriel Magalhaes was central to the win, twice heading home set pieces to put the Gunners in a commanding position at the break.
A brilliant counterattack, started by goalkeeper David Raya, led to Leandro Trossard netting a third on 59 minutes before substitute Gabriel Martinelli scored twice in stoppage time.
Here’s what the managers, players and pundits had to say…
Mikel Arteta on set pieces being the foundation of the win…
Credit to all the coaches, to Nico [Jover, set-piece coach] for the amount of time and belief we put in. It’s got a huge impact – we’ve seen that as well in recent games that we’ve lost when we’ve conceded set-pieces, so the outcome is very different when you don’t concede and score.
Source: Arsenal.com
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Leandro Trossard on Arsenal’s set pieces…
We practise on it a lot and as you can see today it pulled off. Everyone has their role on the set pieces and everyone is working together, it’s nice to score two of them.
Source: NBC Sports
16 – Arsenal have had 16 goal involvements from substitutes in the Premier League this season (10 goals, 6 assists), more than any other side. Options. pic.twitter.com/0QmyRmwQ75
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 20, 2024
Roy Hodgson on the result…
Yeah, they were good set-pieces, of course, but if you speak to our players, they’re a little bit aggrieved. They thought there were infringements for both the goals, but they weren’t lucky enough to have those infringements recognised by the referee, so we find ourselves two goals to nil down. And then, to compound things, of course, we really give them the goal that really puts the game to bed from one of our set-pieces, from one of our corner kicks.
Source: cpfc.co.uk
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Marc Guehi on his side’s defeat…
From my perspective, we could be doing a lot better on the pitch and today was an example. We just need to find a way of getting ourselves out of a rut. We have got a lot of quality. We just need to come together as a collective and as a group and be determined to make things better, and that all starts on the training pitch. Every game is [important], and every game before that was. We move on to the next one. It’s important that we bounce back from this — that is the only thing that we can do.
Source: TNT Sports
5 – Today’s win was Arsenal’s joint-biggest margin of victory in a Premier League London derby, alongside their 5-0 win against Wimbledon back in April 1998. Tranquillity. pic.twitter.com/TAZ4sy7XP9
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 20, 2024
Arteta on Martinelli grabbing two goals off the bench…
I think that is going to make him really good. Sometimes when you are in that period, and he had a little issue in the last few days in training so he wasn’t fully, fully fit, that changes momentum, it changes perception, it re-energises you. It’s everything.
Source: Post-game press conference
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Gabriel Martinelli on the win and his goals…
I’m so pleased for the team. I think we needed a performance like that. I’m here to help the team even if I only play one, two or three minutes. Today, I had the opportunity to score two and I’m so happy with the team and the performance.
Source: TNT Sports
Arsenal's second goal has been accredited as a Dean Henderson own goal, following a review by the Premier League Goal Accreditation Panel#ARSCRY https://t.co/pMqYUZRstn pic.twitter.com/yhvmjMlCQK
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 20, 2024
Arteta on Declan Rice being substituted…
He was feeling some tiredness. I don’t know exactly what muscle it was but when he says that at 3-0 obviously we don’t want to take any risks, and the same with big Gabi as well. He had some discomfort, he had a tackle in the first half and was a bit struggling so it was the right moment to take them off.
Source: Post-game press conference
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Leandro Trossard on celebrating a year at Arsenal with a goal..
It’s been a great year for me and it’s obviously nice to be on the scoresheet. It was a nice one for me – that’s a bit my game, I suppose. I always try to be as composed as possible in the box, and today it helped me to get that goal. It’s been a great year for me – everything I could wish for! Obviously, at the end of last season, the perfect way to end it would have been to win the league, but in general, it’s been great for me.
Source: Arsenal.com
The perfect way to celebrate my first year at @Arsenal! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/fOUXoLz0Xg
— Leandro Trossard (@LTrossard) January 20, 2024
Theo Walcott on Saka not being subbed at 3-0…
As a former player I look at the bigger picture, and now wonder why Bukayo Saka hasn’t been subbed off yet. The sort of player he is, the fact he gets kicked all over the pitch most games, Leandro Trossard has just come off, but Saka with all the games he plays is still out there.
Source: BBC Sport
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Arteta on how Arsenal use the next 10 days before playing Nottingham Forest…
Resting and looking after some players. At the moment we are really short in numbers, so we really have to manage a few players, especially players that have played a lot of football. We have good training blocks, one to train really hard and other ones to use for game preparation, so we’re going to have to try to maximise that space.
Source: Post-game press conference
5 star response! 🅰️🙏🏾 @Arsenal pic.twitter.com/VafFrWbHsT
— Eddie Nketiah 📞 (@EddieNketiah9) January 20, 2024
Rio Ferdinand on the importance of Arsenal’s early opener…
Another bad result would have sent this place into hysteria. They have to stay with it. That goal quietened the whole place, the anxiety. They were able to build on that and at the end of the game they were playing free-flowing football we’re used to seeing Arsenal play.
Source: TNT Sports
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Martin Keown on Martinellis’ impact…
He was and he does his work off the ball rather than running with it. It was the perfect time to bring him on, spaces were opening up. The second goal he gets is carbon copy, the same sort of space. I think it was really good for Martinelli to get confidence to get off the bench. It’s good for the group for him to come on and get those two goals.
Source: TNT Sports
Look at the stances of Jesus and Trossard at the moment of the Raya claim. So much of football is sneaking an extra step. pic.twitter.com/euloGb6d4E
— Billy Carpenter (@billycarpy) January 20, 2024
Enough with the negativity now. Honestly, some of the shit that has been said over the past few weeks.
We have to get behind this team and stop behaving like spoilt brats the minute something goes wrong.
So proud and happy for the boys today.
COYG!!!
It’s possible we replicate the start of last season. Why not!!
I agree. But I’ve been amazed at the recency bias of some of our fanbase.
It’s broken clock syndrome. The minute anything deviates from the objective upward progression we’ve been on, the people who wanted Brendan Rodgers or Jose (?!) pipe up and start explaining why Mikel is a fraud.
Seriously, I’m up for healthy debate. But if, after the glorious football we’ve been treated to as well as tactical class and untold leadership qualities, you still resent Arteta and don’t think he’s right for Arsenal – you’re wrong. And so ungrateful. And you’re a grotesquely ugly freak.
Arsenal lose to liverpool 276 comments on match report, arsenal win 5:0 75 comments.
Equally so, if you criticise Arteta, it doesn’t mean you’re #ArtetaOut or are accusing him of being a fraud. You can just be questioning things you think are/were bad decisions.
Had a feeling it would’ve been like that here, hence why I more or less stopped checking in last few weeks. It’s depressing enough when we lose, don’t need those feelings compounded by the toxic discourse that reigns in these parts and the rest of the internet. Thank god we’re back on the right track, let’s keep it going and keep up the good vibes 💪🔥
Yes mate!
Agree 100% I’ve steered clear of twitter the last couple weeks, the toxic members or our fan base are always the loudest unfortunately, if you bring any perspective your immediately attacked by their loyal followers and spammed with reasons why we should be signing Osmihen, Tony etc right now.
Agreed they are the loudest (especially on the web)
Don’t worry they in real life and if we count all fans they have I very small percentage. I would say most of our fans are actually grateful as f**k at the moment!
Come on you gunners and let Havertz and Jesus bloom out sufficiently this season and we win the league!
Yeah, Raya was great.
You really are a bell end…
So eloquent.
How flattering, not something I’ve been called before…
10 days, Why don’t they go back to dubai?
If a warm weather training can get us 5 goals imagine what we’d do against forest if we sent them to the Sahara desert for a week
1. It was definitely Gabriel’s goal. To put it as an og is pure bullshit.
2. Saka stayed on because he looks like a man who needs a goal and we’ve got quite a while until our next game. He didn’t score, ah well.
3. We’re gonna win the league.
I went big just before the West Ham game. Came stampeding out of the humble closet and told my (non supporting arsenal) friends that we’ll either win the league or the CL this season.
They’ve been laughing their arses off for the last month or so.
So I really hope your third point is true.
I’ll never understand why they don’t just give the goal to the fucker who took the shot.
The keeper certainly doesn’t want the OG. The assist and the goal would’ve meant a lot.
Plus, it would’ve been fun saying our CB was on a hat trick after 33 mins.
They really are finding new and unexciting ways to make football less fun.
I get it if the shot is off target, but the header for Gabriel almost certainty looks to be going in by my take. If it didn’t hit the goalie it’s straight in. There is no logical reason it’s not Gabriel’s goal, it feels like this was done because it would piss off Arsenal and us (fans) so they do it because of some twisted spite. Same as the first thing the TNT commentator says is not brilliant goals and win, but “maybe you don’t know this but your second goal was actually an own goal”… Wankers.
Love that Eddie assist, again another perfectly timed and weighted pass, with end product, as a sub, which again his naysayers probably won’t give him credit for as soon as he has another bad game? He’s just an uncreative poacher who can’t do anything but roll it into the net from 5 yards? His last two assists (in our last two wins) would beg to differ.
yes, what a fantastic pass it was in the 92th minute of a 3-0 win against a broken crystal palace side. we should give him a new contract…
We had a nice break and now we get another 10 days till the next match day. Hopefully players like Saka and others who have played a lot of minutes or have knocks will be fresh and ready for the next match. We have to build a momentum and start a long winning streak.
We are a striker away from the double .maybe another no.8 aswell but were 90% there , hopefully lads in a purple patch will get us across the line . For me tho the investment in a striker is worth every pound as will we ever have the power of partey and rice again , the wise head of jorgi, the depth of tomi, white, salibs and gabi.
Invest in a Gimenez or Schick , the will get goals but add to link up play .
He’d have to be bloody good to offset the 10 point deduction we’d get for shittting all over the FFP rules to buy him.
What a pre assist from Raya. Maybe that’s why his our number 1!
Ahahaha!
I think it was kicking the ball straight to a palace player. That’s why he’s No1
Just go snuggle with your lifesized Ramsdale body pillow already.
Rambo is a victim of gross nepotism
Jesus Christ, when did arteta have him then? Couldn’t have been older than 15!
I could have sworn we thrashed Crystal Palace 5:O?
Judging by the amount of negativity on here last night I must be mistaken …
Some folks really hate it when we win
Very good, all-round performance, just what we needed. Solid at the back (Saliba not mentioned much this week but pure class once again) and the lads looking sharp all over the pitch.
Palace offered very little in fairness apart from their 10, Eze. What an excellent player he is.
EZEly their best player…
Yeah felt so sad for Eze, an academy player at 8 years of age that he cried for a week at a 13 year old when we let him go, Palace’s best offensive player, even he did give the ball away for our 5th i would like him to being swapped for Eddie
Nice win boys! Let’s keep it going! COYG!