Saka leads table-topping Arsenal to 4-1 win over Crystal Palace

Sports Desk, Mar 19 (EFE).- Bukayo Saka led the way for Arsenal in its 4-1 Sunday win over Crystal Palace, scoring both early and late to establish an eight-point lead over its nearest rival at the top of the heap on the Premier League table.

The No. 1 squad was on the attack throughout the match at Emirates Stadium, with Gabriel Martinelli getting the home team on the board on an assist from right-winger Saka in the 28th minute and then the latter sending one home 15 minutes later and just before the break, assisted by Ben White.

After the intermission, it was Leandro Trossard sending the ball to Granit Xhaka for the 3-0.

Jeffrey Schlupp scored for the visitors in minute 63, while it was Saka again for Mikel Arteta’s men – this time on an assist from Kieran Tierney – in the 74th minute for the final result.

Crystal Palace – in the midst of a 13-match winless streak – had fired coach Patrick Vieira two days ago and was helmed by Under-21 manager Patrick McCarthy for the contest, almost scoring just 11 minutes into play when Wilfried Zaha fired one that hit the post and ricocheted off Arsenal netminder Aaron Ramsdale and out of play, but they were clearly overmatched by the cruising Arsenal.

Ramsdale wasn’t given much to worry about from Crystal Palace during the first half, in any case, as the visitors played defense much of the time in going down to their fourth consecutive defeat.

Crystal Palace has scored just six times in their last 13 outings in all competitions, and with Sunday’s result they are hovering just three points above the relegation threshold.

With the win, Arsenal now find themselves eight points clear of No. 2 squad Manchester City, although the latter have a game in hand.

Lineups:

Arsenal: Aaron Ramsdale; Ben White (Jorginho, m.83), Rob Holding, Gabriel Magalhaes (Jakub Kiwior, m.86), Oleksandr Zinchenko (Kieran Tierney, m.65); Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka; Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli (Emile Stimth Rowe, m.83) and Leandro Trossard (Gabriel Jesus, m.65).

Crystal Palace: Joe Whitworth; Joel Ward, James Tomkins, Marc Guehi, Tyrick Mitchell; Luka Milivojevic (Will Hughes, m.65), Cheick Oumar Doucoure, Jeffrey Schlupp (Naouirou Ahamada, m.82); Michael Olise (Eberechi Eze, m.82), Wilfried Zaha and Odsonne Edouard (Jordan Ayew, m.65).

EFE –/bp