Arsenal really needed that win. From being talked about as one of the real title favourites a matter of weeks ago, results haven’t gone the Gunners’ way of late and ahead of kick-off vs. Crystal Palace they had actually fallen out of the Premier League’s top four.A Goal of the Season contender from Olivier Giroud – it really is worth a watch if you haven’t seen it – and a header from Alex Iwobi were enough to get a 2-0 win that Arsene Wenger would have been thrilled with before the game started.Palace were by no means the easiest of opponents for Arsenal in a hectic festive fixture list, but the home side dominated the encounter from start to finish, leaving the Eagles with lots more questions than answers as they prepare for a must-win game in a couple of days’ time against fellow relegation battlers Swansea.We will see many games in 2017 that will be more closely contested than this one, but we still took quite a lot from the bout in north London. Here are FIVE lessons from the match…
Giroud could be Arsenal winter wonder
Giroud’s season has been a frustrating one on a personal note. While the Gunners have been playing well, the Frenchman has been spending the bulk of his time on the bench, but he has been given game time over the Christmas period, to which he’s responded well. Indeed, he netted a vital winning goal against West Brom on Boxing Day and his acrobatic effort vs. Palace on New Year’s Day was truly special.
Arsenal’s form has stuttered of late, which is perhaps a result of teams learning how to set up against Alexis Sanchez as the main forward, so a different approach might be needed through January, which is traditionally a tricky time to get results. Giroud offers a different threat due to his physicality and is clearly full of confidence right now.
Sanchez out wide could offer Gunners new dimension
Building on from the last point, Sanchez gives Arsenal something a little different from out wide. Although the Chilean offers potency and energy up front, having him cut in from wide is extremely useful against defences that are ready to sit deep and frustrate the Gunners – as Palace tried to do.
Sanchez created two chances – one of which was the assist for Giroud’s goal – while also firing seven shots and making six take-ons.
Work to do for Allardyce
Allardyce hasn’t had the easiest of starts since taking over from Alan Pardew at Crystal Palace. Indeed, the ex-England gaffer has barely got his feet under the table at the club following his appointment in the run up to Christmas, but he’s already had to play two games against Watford and Arsenal – not a simple start with both matches away from Selhurst Park.
However, with just one point to show for their efforts, the honeymoon period is now over before it ever truly began. The Eagles are just two points above the relegation zone and some of their defending at Arsenal (the Gunners’ second goal was a prime example) left much to be desired. ‘Big Sam’ is a specialist at the bottom end of the Premier League, but he really needs a result against Swansea in a couple of days’ time.
Alex I-wow-bi
Attacking players often get a lot of praise – after all, their efforts normally win games – but Alex Iwobi can rightly feel a little aggrieved that he doesn’t get the acclaim his performances are, perhaps, due.
Still just 20, the Nigerian winger has shone since breaking into the Gunners’ first-team set-up last term, and his return this season is equal to that of Anthony Martial at Manchester United – a player universally talked up in the mainstream media.
Benteke needs to offer more
If Christian Benteke fires, Palace will move clear of the relegation zone. The big Belgian has the sort of quality few players at the bottom end of the Premier League possess, but his showing against Arsenal was rather limp. He may have won a whopping 15 aerial duels before being substituted in the second-half, but his impact was not quite enough, while his missed header just after the break was a key point in the game as it would have hauled the Eagles level.
