Crystal Palace vs. Arsenal: Score, Grades, Reaction from Premier League Game

Arsenal returned to the top four in the Premier League with a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud scored first-half goals as the Gunners leapfrogged Manchester United, who lost at Swansea, and Southampton, who play on Sunday, to go third.

In-form Cazorla opened the scoring with an eighth-minute penalty before Giroud poked home from close range in first-half injury time, although there was an element of controversy over both goals.

In a dramatic finale, Glenn Murray scored deep in injury time before hitting the post with the last effort of the match.

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FULL-TIME Palace 1-2 Arsenal. The post denies Palace an equaliser at the death. The Gunners are up to 3rd in the #BPL pic.twitter.com/DBR7WD5VAj

— Premier League (@premierleague) February 21, 2015"

It was a dreadful mistake from Pape Souare, on his Premier League debut, that gifted the Gunners the spot-kick. He dwelled on the ball and then fouled Danny Welbeck on the edge of the penalty area.

It was borderline whether Welbeck was in the box, but referee Mark Clattenburg pointed to the spot, and Cazorla calmly sent Julian Speroni the wrong way for his seventh Premier League goal of the season.

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7 - Mark Clattenburg has awarded seven penalties in 16 PL games this season, no referee has given more. Whistle.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 21, 2015"

The Eagles responded well to the setback, and Fraizer Campbell should have done better when free at the back post, while Wilfried Zaha gave Nacho Monreal a torrid time without offering much in terms of the final product.

Laurent Koscielny also failed to direct a free header on target, and Scott Dann blocked a strong effort from Alexis Sanchez before the second came via French striker Giroud.

Speroni repelled the shot of Welbeck, who replays showed was marginally offside, but only into the path of Giroud. He poked home from close range for his eighth goal in the top flight this term.

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Congratulations, @_OlivierGiroud_! pic.twitter.com/iYmwu6giUW

— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) February 21, 2015"

It looked like Alan Pardew had some rousing words at half-time, as Palace came out of the blocks fast in the second half, forcing five corners in the first 10 minutes after the break.

Jason Puncheon saw a shot deflected wide, and Monreal blocked an effort from Zaha, who then set up Jordon Mutch only to see him volley over.

During that period, Arsenal were a whisker away from extending their lead as a lightning quick counter-attack saw Mesut Ozil tee-up Sanchez, whose shot went an inch past the far post.

Clive Rose/Getty Images

Palace’s endeavour could not be faulted, and Dwight Gayle’s header was just over before Dann’s header struck the arm of Calum Chambers. There was no movement of limb toward ball, and the penalty appeals were waved away.

Puncheon curled a free-kick around the wall but just the wrong side of the post, with David Ospina rooted to the spot. Substitute Yannick Bolasie then scuffed his shot straight at the Colombian after a driving run.

Clive Rose/Getty Images

Murray did find a way past Ospina, as he netted from close range after a big scramble from Palace’s 10th corner of the match.

The substitute then also made himself a hero, as Ospina missed Bolasie but saw his header come back off the foot of the post. Crystal Palace were unable to improve on a run that has seen them win just three of their last 15 home Premier League games.

"

PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE: Arsenal go third as Man Utd slip up away to Swansea, with Man City & Newcastle still to play. pic.twitter.com/gWXI16PurW

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) February 21, 2015"

Arsenal still haven't lost at Selhurst Park since 1979 and will look to maintain their good recent run when they face Monaco in the Champions League on Wednesday.

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5 things we learned from Selhurst Park, PLUS one really misleading picture http://t.co/QHRGTAUueN pic.twitter.com/blfXyG7GUM

— Ed Malyon (@eaamalyon) February 21, 2015"

Grades

Starting XI	Rating
1. Julian Speroni	6.25
2. Joel Ward	6.14
6. Scott Dann	6.82
27. Damien Delaney	6.99
40. Pape Souare	6.33
11. Wilfried Zaha	7.03
22. Jordon Mutch	7.13
28. Joe Ledley	6.53
42. Jason Puncheon	7.17
16. Dwight Gayle	6.54
10. Fraizer Campbell	6.70
Subs
7. Yannick Bolasie (56′)	7.02
17. Glenn Murray (78')	7.46
23. Shola Ameobi (79')	6.23

Starting XI	Rating
13. David Ospina	7.10
21. Calum Chambers	7.42
4. Per Mertesacker	7.91
6. Laurent Koscielny	7.26
18. Nacho Monreal	7.80
34. Francis Coquelin	8.03
19. Santi Cazorla	8.38
17. Alexis Sanchez	7.93
11. Mesut Ozil	7.58
23. Danny Welbeck	7.58
12. Olivier Giroud	8.42
Subs
7. Tomas Rosicky (75')	6.15
3. Kieran Gibbs (76')	5.83
5. Gabriel Paulista (88')	5.95

Reaction

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger accepted that his side had a slice of good fortune at the death.

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Wenger: "When they came back to 2-1 we were a bit lucky but we fought and it was a very important win for us." #CPFCvAFC

— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) February 21, 2015"

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Wenger: "We can learn from every game and the players know that they switched off a little bit early, but we did well at the back" #CPFCvAFC

— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) February 21, 2015"

After having 22 shots, Palace boss Alan Pardew praised his side.

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Pardew: "That was probably the best we've played since I've been manager" #cpfc #afc

— Nick Wright (@nicholaspwright) February 21, 2015"