Crystal Palace have lost twice against Arsenal in four days but the scorelines and post-match vibes couldn’t have been more different.
In midweek at the Emirates, the Eagles started and ended the game strongly, taking an early lead and setting up a nerve-jangling finale with a second goal. They exited the Carabao Cup but it was a respectable defeat.
On Saturday, they were thumped on their own patch. It was only the third time in the Premier League era that Palace had shipped five goals at home. No wonder that clusters of blue, red and white seats became visible well before the final whistle was blown.
Home supporters don’t tend to evacuate Selhurst early, but Declan Rice’s late goal to make it 5-1 prompted a swift exodus. It resulted in a muted Christmas send-off from those who remained dutifully until the end.
“We have to learn that when you give the top teams a crumb, they take the whole cake!” a philosophical Oliver Glasner told Sky Sports afterwards. Captain Marc Guehi, meanwhile, acknowledged that the difference between the sides was how they performed in “both boxes”.
They were valid assessments: Palace were competitive across the pitch, but defended their own goal poorly and were wayward with their finishing at the other end.
It wasn’t as one-sided a game as the result suggested. Palace registered as many shots on target (six) as their visitors and the result was closer to a 2-3 defeat than a 1-5 one based on the final expected goals (xG) scoreline (of 1.72 – 2.88).
Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr both missed big chances when the deficit was still salvageable, but were each denied by David Raya, who recovered from a nervy start to play a big part in Arsenal’s win.
The key positive for Glasner, though, will be Sarr’s performance. The Senegalese winger produced a lively display and another goal in front of the watching Wilfried Zaha and Michael Olise, two superstars who came before him.
After a slow start in south London following a summer move from Watford, he has now provided three goals and two assists in his last six matches.
Since gaining promotion in 2013, Palace have always been blessed with electrifying wide players on both flanks.
With Sarr improving and Eberechi Eze in contention to return from injury to face Bournemouth on Boxing Day, they may have uncovered another dynamic duo.
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