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Arsenal scored twice in injury time to stun Crystal Palace and mean Roy Hodgson’s last home game in charge of the Eagles ended in disappointment.
Veteran manager Hodgson, 73, announced on Tuesday he will be leaving the club at the end of the season after four years in the job and was given a heart-felt reception from the returning home supporters.
But his farewell match at Selhurst Park ended in a last-gasp defeat as Gabriel Martinelli latched onto fellow substitute Martin Odegaard’s cross to convert from close range on 91 minutes before Nicolas Pepe coolly rolled in Arsenal’s third four minutes later.
Christian Benteke’s diving header from Andros Townsend’s free-kick levelled for the home side after Pepe had volleyed in to finish off a neat Arsenal move.
Palace can move up a place to 12th on the final day if they better Wolves’ result against Manchester United, while Arsenal kept alive their hopes of a top-six finish.
‘It has been a magnificent four years’
Much-travelled boss Hodgson is the oldest man to have managed in the Premier League and said on the eve of the game it was the “right time to step away” from the rigours of the top flight.
Since taking over in September 2017, he has further stabilised Palace as a top-flight side, steering them clear of the relegation zone with 11th, 12th and 14th-placed finishes.
The former England manager was applauded onto the pitch by the 6,500 Palace fans who made their return to the stadium, while Hodgson received a guard of honour from both sets of players and staff.
His farewell looked to be heading for a satisfactory conclusion when Benteke stooped to head home for his 10th goal of the campaign but the visitors late rally spoiled the mood.
Addressing the crowd at full-time and with the players watching on from the sidelines, Hodgson said: “It has been a magnificent four years of my career and I enjoyed every moment. We would have liked to have finished the season here with a good result against a top team.”
He perhaps also hinted at retirement from management by adding: “I shall miss everybody, I shall miss football but it has been a fantastic journey and I thank you very much.”
More to follow.
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Crystal Palace
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Squad number31Player nameGuaita
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Squad number2Player nameWard
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Squad number5Player nameTomkins
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Squad number24Player nameCahill
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Squad number27Player nameMitchell
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Squad number8Player nameKouyaté
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Squad number22Player nameMcCarthy
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Squad number15Player nameSchlupp
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Squad number10Player nameTownsend
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Squad number20Player nameBenteke
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Squad number11Player nameZaha
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Squad number9Player nameJ Ayew
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Squad number44Player nameRiedewald
Arsenal
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Squad number11Player nameØdegaard -
Squad number34Player nameXhaka
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Squad number35Player nameGabriel Martinelli
Line-ups
Crystal Palace
Formation 4-3-3
- 31Guaita
- 2Ward
- 5Tomkins
- 24Cahill
- 27Mitchell
- 8Kouyaté
- 22McCarthySubstituted forRiedewaldat 82′minutes
- 15SchluppBooked at 5mins
- 10Townsend
- 20BentekeBooked at 37minsSubstituted forJ Ayewat 79′minutes
- 11Zaha
Substitutes
- 1Butland
- 3van Aanholt
- 9J Ayew
- 14Mateta
- 17Clyne
- 23Batshuayi
- 34Kelly
- 39Rak-Sakyi
- 44Riedewald
Arsenal
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Leno
- 21Chambers
- 16Holding
- 6Gabriel
- 3TierneySubstituted forXhakaat 78′minutes
- 18ParteySubstituted forMartinelliat 78′minutes
- 25ElnenyBooked at 37mins
- 19Pépé
- 32Smith Rowe
- 7SakaSubstituted forØdegaardat 65′minutes
- 14Aubameyang
Substitutes
- 8Ceballos
- 9Lacazette
- 11Ødegaard
- 12Willian
- 17Cédric Soares
- 22MarÃ
- 33Ryan
- 34Xhaka
- 35Martinelli
Live Text
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Match ends, Crystal Palace 1, Arsenal 3.
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Second Half ends, Crystal Palace 1, Arsenal 3.
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Goal! Crystal Palace 1, Arsenal 3. Nicolas Pépé (Arsenal) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.
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Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace).
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VAR Decision: Goal Arsenal – Crystal Palace 1-2 Arsenal (Gabriel Martinelli).
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Goal! Crystal Palace 1, Arsenal 2. Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Martin Ødegaard with a cross.Goal confirmed following VAR Review.
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Attempt saved. Andros Townsend (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jeffrey Schlupp.
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Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Nicolas Pépé.
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Attempt missed. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) right footed shot from very close range misses to the left. Assisted by Calum Chambers with a cross.
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Attempt saved. Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) header from very close range is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by James Tomkins with a headed pass.
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Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Gabriel Magalhães.
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Substitution, Crystal Palace. Jairo Riedewald replaces James McCarthy.
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Offside, Crystal Palace. Andros Townsend tries a through ball, but Wilfried Zaha is caught offside.
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Substitution, Crystal Palace. Jordan Ayew replaces Christian Benteke.
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Substitution, Arsenal. Gabriel Martinelli replaces Thomas Partey.
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Substitution, Arsenal. Granit Xhaka replaces Kieran Tierney.
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Attempt blocked. Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by James McCarthy.
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Offside, Crystal Palace. Andros Townsend tries a through ball, but Wilfried Zaha is caught offside.
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Offside, Arsenal. Rob Holding tries a through ball, but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is caught offside.
