English midfielder bags two goals to send Arsenal back to the top of the table…
SEE ALSO: The top 10 best Arsenal games of all time
GK) Wojciech Szczesny – 7
Made a very good save in the second half from a Cameron Jerome header, but enjoyed a relatively quiet afternoon at the Emirates that chance aside.
DR) Barcary Sagna – 8
The French fullback was exceptional for the Gunners, and provided a constant attacking outlet up the right flank, while being defensively impenetrable at the back.
DC) Per Mertesacker – 7
Solid as a rock, as per usual. Positionally impressive, and made some important tackles and interceptions when Arsenal were only one goal ahead of Palace.
DC) Laurent Koscielny – 6
Like his partner Mertesacker, Koscielny barely foot a foot wrong at the back, but was less defensively influential than the giant German.
DL) Nacho Monreal – 6
The Spanish left-back enjoyed a better afternoon than he did against Southampton in Arsenal’s last Premier League fixture, but was not as effective up the flank as Sagna on the other side.
MC) Mikel Arteta – 6
Arteta provides the foundations from which Arsenal’s more attacking players can create, and he dictated the tempo in the middle of the park all afternoon.
MC) Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 9
The young Englishman was deployed in central midfield due to injuries to Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere, and played exceptionally in only his second start of the season. The Ox bagged two, with the first coming from a clever lobbed finish, and the second with a smart run and shot.
AMC) Mesut Ozil – 7
Relentlessly passed the ball this afternoon for the Gunners. Ozil retained possession at all costs for the Gunners, and frustrated Palace with his superb ability to consistently create space for his teammates in the final third.
AMR) Santi Cazorla – 8
Continued his brilliant run of form with an assists for Arsenal’s opener, and showed how gifted he is with a number of clever flicks and tricks.
AML) Lukas Podolski – 6
Quiet afternoon for the multi-capped German international. While he worked hard, he failed to involve himself in any of Arsenal’s more attacking moments.
FC) Olivier Giroud – 6
Assisted Oxlade-Chamberlain’s second with clever hold-up play, but struggled to find space against a very deep and rigid Palace back line.
