Emery in a major battle for hearts and minds
A remarkable afternoon by any measure. Arsenal were 2-0 up and comfortable but familiar failings came back to haunt them – aided by a late VAR controversy – as the Gunners dropped two valuable points in a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace.
The damage from the results is recoverable at this stage of the season and perhaps of greater concern is the fury directed at head coach Unai Emery, who endured chants about Mesut Ozil – left out once again – and boos at full-time as the general opinion towards the Spaniard grows increasingly mixed.
Results ultimately dictate the mood around a club but Emery will be in no doubt he is in a battle for hearts and minds here – especially given the break clause in his contract at the end of the season.
Xhaka reaches breaking point
The scores were level at 2-2 when Emery opted to make his first substitution. Cheers broke out among the home fans when Granit Xhaka’s number was held up and the situation deteriorated rapidly as the 27-year-old walked off.
Blame could be attributed to both sides – effectively jeering your own player isn’t optimum support while Xhaka showing no urgency to leave the field at 2-2 is ignorant of the situation – but the midfielder’s attitude thereafter was appalling.
He cupped his ear to Arsenal fans, appeared to shout “f*** off” twice before refusing to shake Emery’s hand, taking his shirt off and waking straight down the tunnel. It is hard to see how he can remain club captain after this.
Ayew’s revival continues
Jordan Ayew’s 52nd-minute equaliser was a reward for Crystal Palace’s resolve in recovering their poise from conceding two early goals.
It also continues a personal revival for the Ghanaian, who now has four goals in his last eight Premier League games. The 28-year-old had scored four in his previous 34 League outings before that, a sign that the stability created by making his loan move from Swansea City permanent in the summer could reap major dividends for Roy Hodgson.
That said, he didn’t look entirely happy at being replaced for Christian Benteke with nine minutes left.
VAR vindicates Zaha… and angers Arsenal
Wilfried Zaha understandably felt he had a point to prove here after trying to force through a move to Arsenal in the summer only for the Gunners to opt for Nicolas Pepe instead.
A booking for diving midway through the first half might have reinforced critical opinion of Zaha but VAR overturned the decision and instead awarded Crystal Palace a penalty for a foul by Calum Chambers.
VAR was not finished there either, controversially ruling out an 82nd-minute winner by Sokratis for a perceived foul by Chambers on Luka Milivojevic moments before.
