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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Matt Verri

Arsenal 5-0 Crystal Palace: Gabriel Martinelli nets late brace as Gunners cruise to big win

Arsenal returned to winning ways in the Premier League with a dominant 5-0 win over Crystal Palace.

The Gunners went into the match on a run of just one win in seven matches, and without a League victory in three games, but hoped a recent trip to Dubai during their winter break would bring a reset and recharge their title bid.

It is too soon to pass judgement on their ambitions of challenging Liverpool and Manchester City, but Arsenal closed to within two points of Jurgen Klopp's side as Gabriel gave them an early lead and an own goal from Dean Henderson doubled the advantage before the break.

Leandro Trossard struck on the hour mark to effectively seal the three points, before Gabriel Martinelli scored a brace in stoppage-time to cap an perfect afternoon for the Gunners and leave Palace just five points clear of the relegation zone.

Roy Hodgson will be particularly frustrated with the manner of Arsenal's first-half goals. Declan Rice swung in a corner and Gabriel proved far too strong for Chris Richards, as he rose highest and headed home.

And Gabriel was involved in the second too, even if did eventually go down as an own goal. This time Saka delivered the ball in, perfectly to the back post, and Gabriel nodded the ball in off the back of Henderson's head.

Palace never really looked like getting back into the match, for all Eberechi Eze was brought when he got on the ball, and Trossard put the match to bed after a slick Arsenal counter. David Raya claimed a Palace corner, flung the ball out and Gabriel Jesus broke away down the right. He squared it for Trossard, who stayed onside and cut onto his right foot, producing an emphatic finish. to put the result beyond doubt.

Martinelli was among those brought on by Arteta and he showed a ruthless edge in added-time. Nketiah played him through for his first, as the Brazilian curled a low finish into the far corner, and it was almost a carbon copy a minute later as Jorginho provided the pass this time and an identical outcome followed.

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