Well that was a pretty hard fought & exciting match that Arsenal just won away at Crystal Palace. Hosts Palace, who are without a manager, didn’t exactly lie down and play dead and it was a tough win to pull off. This is the kind of game that Arsenal would have lost in the last 5 years in the league but the Gunners seem to be playing with a lot more confidence now. And they achieved it with playing 25 minutes plus stoppage time of 4 minutes with a man down!Arsenal also lost Matheiu Flamini to what looked like a groin injury in the 6th minute and he was replace by promising youngster Serge Gnabry.

Arsenal’s other holding midfielder Mikel Arteta scored a penalty after Adlene Guedioura’s foul on Serge Gnabry before being dismissed on 65 minutes for a professional foul on Marouane Chamakh. It was a silly sending off as former Arsenal striker Chamakh was no where near the Arsenal goal and still had lots of running to do. Arteta should have just stayed with him and hindered his goal scoring chances. Instead he impeded the Moroccan’s run and down the player came tumbling and out came the red card from the referee’s pocket. Straight red and Arteta should have his head examined. What can you hope to accomplish by getting sent off and getting your side reduced to 10 men?

Palace who were already attacking and attempting shots on goal looked even more likely to score the equilizer and I stated on both Facebook and Twitter that “I’ll be glad if Arsenal are able to get away with a draw in this game.” A goal just seemed likely and it took too superb saves from our goalie Szczesny. And yes the goal did come – but it was for the Gunners! Olivier Giroud secured Arsenal’s win when he headed in late in the game on an assist by Aaron Ramsey and that was a hard fought and well deserved win for the league leaders who now sit on 22 points at the top of the league and 5 ahead of 2nd place Liverpool and 6 ahead of Chelsea FC.