Crystal Palace crush Arsenal’s top four dream

Arsenal’s efforts to secure a top-four Premier League finish this season took a huge setback with their 3-0 defeat against a rampant Crystal Palace. Hosts troubled Arsenal right from the start and goals from Jean-Philippe Mateta and Jordan Ayew gave Palace a good lead before the first half ended giving Londoners little time to recover.

Gunners Emile Smith Rowe and Martin Odegaard wasted away opportunities as they failed to get the team back into action and Wilfried Zaha’s penalty which came in 16 minutes from time put the game out of reach for Arsenal. It did not help matters for the Gunners that Tottenham Hotspur their main opponent in the league in the fight for the top four had earlier thrashed Newcastle United 5-0 and claimed the last spot of European qualification.