Arsenal destroy Palace to go eight points clear

Arsenal cruise to 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace with Bukayo Saka shining, taking them 8 points clear at the top of the Premier League

Bukayo Saka celebrates after completing his double against Crystal Palace on Sunday to help Arsenal to a 4-1 win. (Photo credit: GOAL)

There are just ten games to go in the Premier League, and Arsenal, yet again, passed their latest test with flying colours after dismantling Crystal Palace 4-1 at the Emirates on Sunday.

The Gunners suffered a shock Europa League exit at the hands of Sporting Lisbon on Thursday, but brought everything they had in their arsenal to the party against the Eagles.

The result must have flattered the visitors, considering it could have been more.

Arsenal couldn’t call on William Saliba or Takehiro Tomiyasu, as both suffered injuries in their midweek loss to Sporting.

On came Rob Holding, who gave a great account of himself and showed why he’s a worthy deputy to the injured Frenchman.

Bukayo Saka was the main actor of the night.

The Arsenal star boy weighed in with two goals and an assist as the Gunners ran out 4-1 winners.

Gabriel Martinelli scored the opener just two minutes before the half-hour mark, and it unravelled for the visitors from there.

Ben White set up Saka for the second shortly before the two teams went in for the break.

Two became three just ten minutes after the restart with Granit Xhaka firing home from a neat Leandro Trossard assist, and Palace fans must fear the worst at this stage.

The visitors pulled one back four minutes later, but Saka made sure there was no comeback of any sort with a brilliant finish from a Kieran Tierney assist.

The win took Arsenal up to 69 points, eight points clear at the top of the table after having played a game more than City.

Palace will now have to hit the reset button after firing Patrick Vieira on Friday.

The process of hiring his replacement is well underway, but they’re at risk of falling behind with just three points standing between them in 12th and West Ham in 18th.