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9 outstanding stats from Arsenal’s blockbuster 5-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace

Mitchell Wilks •

Arsenal were back from the winter break with a bang by putting Crystal Palace to the sword in a 5-0 demolition of the Eagles at the Emirates Stadium.

Having gone into the break on a run of four games without victory, the pressure was on the Gunners to find a way to fix their issues in front of goal and get their Premier League title chase back on track.

They found a way through just 11 minutes into the game, Gabriel heading his side in front from a set piece and setting the tone for what would be a one-sided afternoon of football in north London.

He looked to have doubled Arsenal’s lead after 37 minutes, again from a set-piece, but his header this time went down as an own-goal against Dean Henderson as Mikel Arteta’s side eased into the break 2-0 up.

Palace didn’t offer much in the way of competition after the interval, with substitute Leandro Trossard getting in on the act just shy of the hour mark and making it three for the hosts, before fellow substitute Gabriel Martinelli got in on the act as the game grew on with Palace down and out.

The Brazilian grabbed his first in the fourth minute of injury time with Roy Hodgson’s side desperate for the final whistle, bursting through from a quick counter attack following a Palace corner and slotting home with ease.

Not even a minute later, he had the ball back in virtually the same position and punished the visitors to make it 5-0, grabbing perhaps the quickest brace we’ll see this season.

With the noise from the outside loud about Arsenal’s lack of conviction in front of goal, a 5-0 victory in a London derby to momentarily go level on points with Manchester City was the perfect Saturday for the Gunners, with the pressure now on Liverpool to get a result later in the weekend to stay at the top of the table.

Arteta was keen to compliment Arsenal’s fast start after the game, speaking to TNT Sport: “The positivity we had right from the beginning. I had a really good feeling in the last 10 days about the team and how they reacted.

“They are great players, we have a great team and today they really wanted it. I could feel that.”

The Spaniard added that the win was ‘really needed’ while Bukayo Saka echoed similar thoughts: “Everyone knows we lost the last three games so this one was important for us and the fans to build some momentum.

“When you look at the league table, you want to be first. You don’t want to be third, fourth of fifth. That’s my feeling personally.”

It’s an ideal start to league action in 2024 and the perfect way to avenge an early FA Cup exit, but Arsenal still have a long way to go.

Having said that, the way in which they blew Palace away suggests they’re more than capable. Here are X stats which sum up their dominant display.

– William Saliba has more Premier League clean-sheets than any other defender this season (8).

– Arsenal have had 16 goal involvements from substitutes in the Premier League this season (10 goals, 6 assists), more than any other side. Options – via @OptaJoe.

– Their victory over Palace was the third time this season that Arsenal have scored 5+ goals in a single game.

– However, it was also the Gunners’ joint-biggest margin of victory in a Premier League London derby and their joint-biggest margin of victory in a Premier League game under Mikel Arteta – via @Squawka.

– Arsenal’s five goals against Palace means they’ve scored more in one game than they have in all of their last six domestic matches combined.

– The result also means it’s the first time the Gunners have scored three goals from open play in over a month. Sweet, sweet relief.

– Since Arteta took charge of Arsenal, only Liverpool (55) and Manchester City (60) have managed more home wins in the Premier League than the Gunners (50).

– In their last two home games against Palace, Arsenal have now scored nine goals from just 11 shots on target. Clinical and proof that it’s becoming one of their favourite fixtures.

– Arsenal have scored more goals from corners than any other team in the Premier League this season (9), while their 10 headed goals are also the most of any side. Choreographed – via @OptaJoe.

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