Arsenal 4-1 Crystal Palace: Saka scores twice as Gunners lead by eight points

‘CRYSTAL Palace’ was misspelled on some of the paper tickets for this clash at the Emirates Stadium. There were no such mistakes on the Arsenal pitch.

There are no signs of the capitulation that many predicted would come. There is no indication that the wheels, even slightly, will come out of Arsenal’s title challenge.

Eight points clear at the top of the Premier League with 10 games to go after this most clinical victory over Palace, who remain winless going into 2023.

If Arsenal are going to stutter, they will leave it very late.

Of course, if the Gunners can overcome Manchester City to win their first championship since 2004 it means cheating for Palace.

The fact that the ‘y’ and ‘s’ have switched places in ‘Crystal’ in several of the away supporters’ entries is just as inconsequential.

Palace have much bigger concerns. They are sleepwalking into a relegation fight, the club currently sitting three points clear of 18th-placed West Ham, who are two games down on their London rivals.

Patrick Vieira paid the ultimate price for the team’s dismal form on Friday when he was sacked.

As Sportsmail revealed last week, the return of Roy Hodgson, who vacated the job to make way for Vieira two years ago, is not ruled out.

But at the age of 75, why would a retired Hodgson need this kind of aggression? If he was watching this, you wouldn’t blame him for having reservations.

Palace was determined for a while; Wilfred Zaha was unlucky not to put the Eagles ahead on 11 minutes, the effort he tried to squeeze at the near post hitting a post before bouncing off Aaron Ramsdale and out into the corner.

When things are going well for you, the ball bounces off the goalie and into the post. Suffice to say, the ball is not rolling for Palace at the moment.

That is why Vieira received his marching orders. Vieira is a legend on this side of North London, in fact the home fans really enjoyed belting out his famous song about the Frenchman at various times here.

That will be little comfort to Vieira, of course, who believed he could stabilize a struggling ship.

For the moment, management of the Palace has fallen to the Under-21 coach, Paddy McCarthy.

Your audition for the job here began with promising signs. Shortly after Zaha’s chance, Odsonne Edouard broke through only to be denied by Ramsdale, though the Palace striker was ultimately ruled out.

Waiting in the wings to replace McCarthy is Hodgson.

Heading into the weekend, he was the preferred candidate to replace Vieira until the end of the season among influential members of the club’s hierarchy.

They keep their options open for the international recess; indeed, going into this clash, Palace wanted to give McCarthy just the right whiplash to do the job for him.

And for 25 minutes, the former Republic of Ireland defender didn’t do any damage to his chances, although rookie goalkeeper Joe Whitworth was forced to save Martin Odegaard’s shot from the edge of the box.

Cheick Doucoure was having a good game in midfield, while Zaha was dangerous.

But when Arsenal switched gears, Palace were impressed, and McCarthy’s hopes of a longer spell in the dugout were dealt four crushing blows.

First, Gabriel Martinelli hit a ferocious angled shot from Bukayo Saka’s cutout to put the team ahead in the 28th minute.

Then, just before half time, Saka coolly past Whitworth through a Ben White pass to double Arsenal’s lead.

Game over. Palace had not scored in four games and had not scored twice in a single match since December. They were not willing to buck that trend now.

For Arsenal, this was turning into another routine afternoon.

Saka was at his effervescent best, Odegaard pure poetry in midfield and, except for those early scares, their defence, which had Rob Holding making his first league start of the season in the absence of the injured William Saliba, was in largely airtight.

Zaha again looked more likely for Palace, his 53rd-minute effort forcing Ramsdale into an instinctive save.

But in the end, Palace had been impressed. Grant Xhaka added a third on 55 minutes, converting a pass from Leandro Trossard to end Arsenal’s lingering concerns.

Thanks to Palace, they went for it, Jeffrey Schlupp’s combined effort cutting the deficit in the 63rd minute.

If Zaha had converted an excellent chance nine minutes later, perhaps McCarthy’s hopes of staying in the job would have improved.

As it happens, Saka wiped out any hope of Palace fighting back, taking advantage of home substitute Kieran Tierney’s pass in the 74th minute to complete the scoring.

Saka’s season is going from strength to strength. A brilliant young footballer, with personality above all else.

Palace have their own bright youngsters: Michael Olise has all the makings of a top four player. Similarly, Eberechi Eze, coming on as a late substitute, would already be an England intentional were it not for injury.

However, at this rate, they will be lucky not to play the Football Championship next season.

Is Hodgson the answer? Maybe. Maybe not.

What is certain is that Arsenal emphatically answered another question here on Sunday.