Arsenal’s recent resurgence was checked by a stubborn Crystal Palace, who claimed a hard-fought point from a forgettable encounter at Emirates Stadium.
Tagged as relegation candidates as little as three weeks ago, the Gunners came into the game off the back of four straight wins in all competitions, but were unable to find their way past a well-drilled and disciplined visitors.
For a side in such good form Arsenal were a disappointment going forward, their best effort at goal a shot on the turn from Alexandre Lacazette into the side-netting.
Their only other clear-cut chance was an angled shot from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang that Vincente Guaita palmed away.
There was more goalmouth action at the other end, with James Tomkins heading an Eberechi Eze free-kick against the bar and Christian Benteke drawing a fine save from Bernd Leno with a nodded effort of his own.
The point leaves Arsenal 11th on 24 points and Palace two points and a league place worse off, but comfortably clear of any relegation worries.
A game to forget
It was only three weeks ago that West Brom boss Sam Allardyce said Arsenal were in the middle of a battle against the drop.
To be fair to Allardyce, he had a point at the time. But that prediction has been made to look somewhat foolish by the Gunners’ subsequent three straight league wins, which included hammering the flailing Baggies.
In light of their upturn in form this result has to count as a minor blip, but it underlines the fact that Arteta’s side remain a work in progress.
Young players like Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe have added some much-needed zip and creative flair in recent games, but they were stifled here, flickering into life all too rarely against a dogged opponent.
Lacazette had scored in each of the last three league games but was marshalled well by Palace and spurned his only real chance, while Aubameyang remains frustratingly ineffective in his role on the left.
Credit then to Palace, who had gone five games without a win before beating Sheffield United 2-0 last time out in the top flight, but now have another, deserved clean sheet.
This was not purely a backs-against-the-wall display by Roy Hodgson’s side. They sought to burst forward following transitions, using the guile and pace of Eze and Wilfried Zaha to challenge the home defence.
But for the crossbar, goalkeeper Leno and greater awareness from James McArthur, who was unable to turn in a flick on from Benteke from a corner, they would have claimed a win that would not have been entirely undeserved.
Before Thursday’s game, Hodgson described Palace’s situation – 22 points, 10 clear of the bottom three – as “somewhat comfortable”.
Thursday’s point and their performance will only add to their sense of comfort.
One crumb of comfort for Arsenal is that they now have their first home clean sheet of the league season and a fit-again Thomas Partey, who played 20 minutes after recovering from a thigh injury that had sidelined him for a month.
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Arsenal
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Squad number18Player namePartey
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Squad number19Player namePépé
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Squad number30Player nameNketiah
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 number8Player nameKouyaté
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Squad number27Player nameMitchell
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Squad number10Player nameTownsend
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Squad number18Player nameMcArthur
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Squad number4Player nameMilivojevic
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Squad number25Player nameEze
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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 number22Player nameMcCarthy
Line-ups
Arsenal
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Leno
- 2BellerÃn
- 16Holding
- 23David LuizBooked at 67mins
- 15Maitland-NilesSubstituted forPépéat 65′minutes
- 8CeballosSubstituted forParteyat 69′minutes
- 34Xhaka
- 7Saka
- 32Smith Rowe
- 14Aubameyang
- 9LacazetteSubstituted forNketiahat 81′minutes
Substitutes
- 6Gabriel
- 12Willian
- 13Rúnarsson
- 17Cédric Soares
- 18Partey
- 19Pépé
- 21Chambers
- 28Willock
- 30Nketiah
Crystal Palace
Formation 4-4-2
- 31Guaita
- 2Ward
- 5TomkinsBooked at 42mins
- 8Kouyaté
- 27Mitchell
- 10Townsend
- 18McArthur
- 4MilivojevicSubstituted forMcCarthyat 89′minutes
- 25Eze
- 20BentekeSubstituted forJ Ayewat 81′minutes
- 11Zaha
Substitutes
- 1Butland
- 3van Aanholt
- 6Dann
- 9J Ayew
- 17Clyne
- 22McCarthy
- 23Batshuayi
- 24Cahill
- 44Riedewald
Live Text
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Match ends, Arsenal 0, Crystal Palace 0.
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Second Half ends, Arsenal 0, Crystal Palace 0.
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Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by James McArthur (Crystal Palace).
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Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Héctor BellerÃn.
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Attempt blocked. Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
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Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by James McArthur (Crystal Palace).
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Thomas Partey (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace).
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Substitution, Crystal Palace. James McCarthy replaces Luka Milivojevic.
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Attempt missed. Nicolas Pépé (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left following a set piece situation.
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Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Andros Townsend (Crystal Palace).
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Attempt blocked. Granit Xhaka (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Thomas Partey.
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Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Joel Ward (Crystal Palace).
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Attempt blocked. Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Attempt missed. Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Rob Holding with a headed pass following a corner.
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Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by James Tomkins.
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