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Mikel Arteta saw his side put five past Crystal Palace in the latest London derby ahead of Christmas.
Arsenal turned in a dominant second half display to see off a dangerous Crystal Palace side 5-1 on Saturday evening and head into Christmas buoyed by yet another Premier League victory.
It looked as if the Eagles could cause serious problems for the Gunners early on in the clash with a frantic opening half hour to the meeting. Gabriel Jesus bagged a first half brace with Kai Havertz also on target to put the score at 3-1 going in at the break.
Mikel Arteta turned to Declan Rice to calm down proceedings and the England international did exactly that with a plomb, seeing his shot turned in by Gabriel Martinelli before curling into the back of the net with less than 10 minutes left to play.
Here’s how the Arsenal players rated.
Arsenal player ratings
GK - David Raya, 9
Raya has been kept on his toes by Crystal Palace.Raya has been kept on his toes by Crystal Palace.
Raya has been kept on his toes by Crystal Palace. | AFP via Getty Images
It’s easy to forgive the moments he was over casual on the ball in the first half when he pulls off the saves he did tonight. He’ll have few games busier than that between the sticks for Arsenal but frustrated Crystal Palace time and time again, a double save against Sarr and Mateta in the second half particularly impressive.
LB - Myles Lewis-Skelly, 8
Had his work cut out tonight against Sarr, who was always dangerous. The 18-year-old looks comfortable in the Premier League already and wasn’t afraid to get physical with the likes of big Jean-Philippe Mateta. Came off after 58 minutes after a spell of Palace danger down that flank.
CB - William Saliba, 7
Much better in the second half having been the culprit of a couple of errors before the break.
CB - Gabriel, 8
Shown a yellow card for a silly pull back on Sarr after a clumsy, failed attempt to win the ball in the first half. Hit the bar from a corner just before the break and marshalled proceedings confidently as the Gunners saw out the win.
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RB - Jurrien Timber, 7
Plenty of good work under the lights at Selhurst Park. Crystal Palace weren’t much of a threat down this flank and Arsenal found plenty of joy attacking on the right.
CM - Thomas Partey, 5
The scoreline flatters the control that Arsenal had for large parts. Sarr was at his most dangerous when cutting in as Partey struggled to offer the back four much protection.
CM - Martin Odegaard, 8
His usual self pulling the strings. The goalscorers will make the headlines tonight but that was a purring performance from Odegaard.
CM - Kai Havertz, 7
Playing further back tonight but busying himself where possible. Right place, right time to take that easy chance before the break and make it 3-1. Came off early in the second half.
LW - Gabriel Martinelli, 8
Martinelli was on target after the break.Martinelli was on target after the break.
Martinelli was on target after the break. | AFP via Getty Images
Stepped up after Saka was forced off in the first half. Had the hunger to get in front of goal to poke home his goal and deserved that.
ST - Gabriel Jesus, 9
A sparkling performance from the number nine. That’ll do his confidence a whole lot of good and go so way to quiet talk of Arsenal being in desperate need of a talisman come January. A changed man after his first goal and took the second superbly.
RW - Bukayo Saka, 8
Put in a lovely cross for the opening goal and looked dangerous on the breaks before coming off with a worrying injury.
SUB - Leandro Trossard, 6
Quiet in the first half after coming on for Saka but better after the break as Crystal Palace struggled to pin him down.
SUB - Declan Rice, 10
Exactly what Arsenal needed when he came on, adding solidity to midfield. That must have been everything Arteta asked of the substitute, who capped off a perfect cameo with a lovely goal from distance.
SUB - Riccardo Calafiori, 8
Lewis-Skelly was beginning to look a little leggy in that position and Calafiori came on to stem a growing Palace threat well.
SUB - Mikel Merino, N/A
SUB - Ethan Nwaneri, N/A
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