Palace: Martyn, Humphrey, Shaw, Coleman, Gordon, Patterson, Pitcher, Southgate, Newman, Salako, Armstrong Subs: Dyer (Patterson 35), Matthew (Newman 70), Wilmot
Result : Crystal Palace (0) 0 Arsenal (2) 3 Scorers: Merson 24, Kiwomya 29 77
Bookings: Armstrong, Martyn, Gordon, Kiwomya, Schwarz Southgate
Att : 17092 Referee : K Morton (Bury St Edmunds)
A pretty convincing victory, though it has to said, against a poor Palace side who look likely relegation candidates if they continue playing like this. The same side as the one that won against Forest on Tuesday, with Kiwomya again playing virtually as a lone striker, and Merson drifting around at will, and there was again some nice passing and a noticeable attempt to keep the ball on the deck. I think Palace started off with 5 at the back back, but soon changed when they discovered that it meant they had 3 players marking one striker.
Palace probably had the better of the early exchanges, though it was Arsenal who had most of the possession and pressure in the first couple of minutes. However, there were two or three occasions in the opening 20 minutes when Palace might have scored. Twice crosses from the left found the head of Chris Armstrong in the middle in a bit of space. However, both times he showed why he's scored so few league goals this season, putting weak headers straight at Seaman.
At the other end Arsenal also came close on a couple of occasion. First Helder played in a ball from the left which found Merson in space a couple of yards inside the area. However it was on his left foot and his swing at it barely made contact. Helder again did well, getting past Humphrey before swinging in a lovely cross which Kiwomya seemed a bit late throwing himself at, and it went just over his head into Martyn's arms.
Palace again threatened when a cross in from the right by Humphrey cleared the Arsenal defence and reached Salako stealing in at the far post. However, he was stretching somewhat and his volley from the corner of the 6-yard box sailed high and wide. Meanwhile at the other end Jensen very nearly doubled his Arsenal account. Merson knocked the ball back to him on the edge of the box, but Martyn brilliantly tipped his drive round the far post.
Arsenal went in front from a neatly worked free kick just outside the box, awarded when Helder fell over under challenge from Southgate. Jensen rolled the ball to the outside of the wall, behind which Merson was lurking. He ran onto the pass and rifled a shot from an angle, through Martyn's legs I think, and into the back of the net.
Seaman later kept the scores level, reactly superbly to tip over a shot from Armstrong after the latter had done well to turn outside Winterburn and fire in a rising shot from about 12 yards. However, not long afterwards Arsenal went two up. Winterburn took a quick throw on the left, and a lovely flick by Merson put Kiwomya free in the box and he finished confidently, driving the ball into the gap between Martyn and his near post.
Winterburn went off injured 5 minutes before half time to be replaced by Morrow, with Bouldy taking over the captain's armband. In the second half Arsenal were tending to sit on their lead rather too much for my liking, and for the most part Palace were allowed to dominate. However, they failed to create much and once Arsenal got the 3rd goal they never looked like scoring
In fact I can only recall one occasion in the 2nd half when Seaman's goal was seriously threatened. That was when he and Linighan suffered a breakdown in communications over who should clear a through ball and as a result got in each other's way to leave Armstrong with a clear shot at goal. However, he snatched at it and from about 16 yards he wafted the ball over the bar.
Apart from the goal, the main excitement among the Arsenal fans after the break was when Wrighty apparently took a seat amongst the Gooners at the back of the stand. As a result everybody stood up to have a look which meant that nobody could see anything of the match for about 5 minutes, which was a pain though no great loss given the lack of action on the pitch.
The third goal came about 15 minutes from time. Merson received a lovely return ball from Helder on the left to leave himself a free run into the area. With a defender coming across he slipped the ball square to Kiwomya on his right with only Martyn to beat. I thought he'd taken too much time, because he controlled the ball which allowed Martyn time to come out to meet him, but in the end he finished very well, clipping the ball over the keeper as he dived in front of him.
I honestly can't remember much else in the way of goalmouth incident. In truth it was a fairly comfortable game for Arsenal, and the defence soaked up any pressure Palace could muster in the second half. I thought Linighan again had a good game and Helder (or Lionel Ritchie, as seems to be the favoured nickname amongst the Gooners) again looked exciting though he didn't see much of the ball in the second half. I have to say Kiwomya didn't look very likely to do anything for much of the match, but he took both goals very well. Merson though was Arsenal's outstanding player, continuing his rehabilitation apace.
I can't see Auxerre offering us such an easy time of it on Thursday, but a win like this ought to leave the team with plenty of confidence. Mind you we'll be without Helder who has been the spark which has done much to lighten the gloom after GG's departure, but presumably Adams, Wright and Hartson will return.
Report by Derek Brownjohn