LONDON, Jan 15: Arsenal’s three-match winning streak in the Premier League ended with a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace as the Gunners missed a chance to keep their momentum going and climb up the table.
Arsenal remained rooted in 11th place with 24 points, while Palace stayed in 13th with 23 points. “We’ll take it,” Palace winger Eberechi Eze said on Thursday. “It’s a good point to take.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was under severe pressure before Christmas after the team’s worst start to a season since 1974. But wins over the festive period against Chelsea, Brighton and West Bromwich Albion moved his team back into midtable and in sight of the European positions.
But Thursday’s game saw his team revert back to its old form, lacking creativity in midfield and cutting edge up front.
Arteta partly blamed fatigue, saying his players lacked “some freshness and some quality in the final third. “We lacked the last pass or the last shot. We had to generate more to win that game,” he said.
Arsenal controlled the match against Palace in the opening stages of the first half with the home side’s clearest chance coming in the 20th minute.
Captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang cut inside from the left and unleashed a curling shot that appeared to fool goalkeeper Vicente Guaita. He wildly palmed the ball just in front of him and then mispunched before collecting it.
But Palace slowly grew into the match, putting Arsenal under pressure in midfield and on the counterattack. The visitors came close from a free kick in the 39th when James Tomkins leaped above center back Rob Holding and headed the ball against the crossbar.
Three minutes later, Christian Benteke beat defender David Luiz in an aerial duel to a cross from Tyrick Mitchell and the forward’s close-range header nearly beat Bernd Leno. But the goalkeeper’s leaping fingertip save was enough to push the ball out of danger for a corner.
Arsenal piled on the pressure at the start of the second half, creating a number of chances with Hector Bellerin firing just wide after Palace failed to clear and the ball fell to him in the 46th.
Aubameyang’s scoring drought continues in the Premier League. After his chance in the first half, Crystal Palace defenders did everything to keep the forward from taking the ball on his favoured left foot.
Palace assistant manager Ray Lewington kept shouting “right, right” at the top of his lungs to urge his players to keep the ball on Aubameyang’s weaker right foot. Manager Roy Hodgson lauded his team’s performance, saying he was happy to come away with a clean sheet.
Arteta also acknowledged that the absence of Tierny, who will have an MRI scan on Friday, was a big factor.
EPL calls off game
The coronavirus outbreak at Aston Villa has led to the postponement of another game as the Premier League holds talks with captains and managers of clubs to urge compliance with enhanced regulations.
“A significant number of players and staff remain in isolation” at Villa, the league said on Thursday after granting the central England club’s request to no longer play Everton on Sunday.
Villa, whose game against Tottenham on Wednesday was also called off, said it expects the isolating players and staff to be part of trainings again from Sunday.
The league has tightened coronavirus protocols, including telling players and managers to avoid shaking hands and hugging during goal celebrations.
That message was being reinforced in virtual meetings with club captains and managers before this weekend’s games.
“Some of the scenes we have seen have been brainless and give out an awful message,” said Julian Knight, who chairs the House of Commons select committee overseeing sports policy.
The Premier League is among the elite sports competitions allowed to continue during England’s third national lockdown which began last week. (AP)
