This had always looked an appetising assignment for Arsenal to use as a reset and, sure enough, Crystal Palace were the most obliging of visitors. Nothing should be taken away from Mikel Arteta’s side, who reminded their title rivals that they are far from a lost cause and showed the benefits of a warm-weather training break in Dubai. They were nowhere near full tilt in easing clear by five goals and it pleased their manager hugely that Gabriel Martinelli, largely blunt this season, came on to crown their afternoon with two identical finishes in added time.
Shortly after that, the uncertainties that have set in at Palace were laid bare. Upon the full-time whistle Roy Hodgson stared impassively towards an away section that held up banners reading “Wasted potential on and off the pitch, weak decisions taking us backwards” and “No shared vision, no structured plan, [Steve] Parish out, Yanks out”. His players had been present in body only, offering scant resistance in those moments when Arsenal turned up the heat, and a run of one win in 12 games across all competitions bodes ominously.
