Crystal Palace 3-0 Arsenal: Eagles take derby honours to deny Gunners top-four return

Crystal Palace denied Arsenal a return to the top four with a comfortable 3-0 victory at Selhurst Park for their first home Premier League win of 2022.

Palace took the lead on 16 minutes when Joachim Andersen headed back Conor Gallagher’s free-kick for an unmarked Jean-Philippe-Mateta to nod past Aaron Ramsdale.

Defender Andersen provided his second assist of the match eight minutes later with a superb pass to set up Jordan Ayew, who thumped home to make it 2-0.

Arsenal looked for a response after the break, but Wilfried Zaha added a third for the Eagles from the penalty spot with 16 minutes remaining.

As the Gunners looked to rally Martin Odegaard fired wide, Emile Smith Rowe was denied by Marc Guehi’s goal-line clearance and Eddie Nketiah hit the bar, but there was to be no way through.

Defeat keeps Arsenal in fifth place, level on 54 points with fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, but with one match in hand.

Palace move up to ninth with 37 points.