Arsenal 4-1 Crystal Palace: Player ratings as Gunners extend lead at top to eight points

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<p>— Arsenal (@Arsenal) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/19/arsenal-4-1-crystal-palace-player-ratings/3/"https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1637472773395062784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>March 19, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/19/arsenal-4-1-crystal-palace-player-ratings/3/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div> <p>Granit Xhaka added a third after the restart before Palace threatened an unlikely comeback when Jeffrey Schlupp poked home from a corner. Zaha went close to making it 3-2 which would’ve set up a nervy finish, but Saka put the result beyond any reasonable doubt when he latched onto Kieran Tierney’s cross and finished first time.</p> <p>That allowed the hosts to cruise in the closing stages and they’ll take a healthy lead at the top heading into the March break.</p> <h2>Arsenal 4-1 Crystal Palace player ratings</h2> <p>Here are the Arsenal player ratings from their emphatic victory over Palace.</p> <h2>Goalkeeper &amp; Defenders</h2> <div id="attachment_133070" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-133070" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/19/arsenal-4-1-crystal-palace-player-ratings/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1474596978.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1474596978.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1474596978-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Rob Holding filled in for William Saliba. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)</p> </div> <p><strong>Aaron Ramsdale (GK) – 6/10 –</strong> No clean sheet for Rambo, who was rarely troubled. It feels like I’ve written that a lot this season.</p> <p><strong>Ben White (RB) – 8/10 –</strong> Zaha had his moments, but he was largely kept in check by the excellent White, who was also effective going forward in the first half.</p> <p><strong>Rob Holding (CB) – 7/10 –</strong> No Wilo? No problem. Holding filled in ably for the Frenchman. The defender appreciated Palace’s long ball efforts in the opening period as it allowed him to dominate Odsonne Edouard in the air.</p> <p><strong>Gabriel (CB) – 6/10 –</strong> A quiet outing for Gabriel with Holding getting through much of the defensive work. Was replaced late on as Jakub Kiwior made his Premier League debut.</p> <p><strong>Oleksandr Zinchenko (LB) – 6.5/10 –</strong> We’re typically taken aback by the left-back’s majesty in possession, but he particularly impressed in the defensive phase on Sunday. Michael Olise was kept in check.</p> <p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/19/arsenal-4-1-crystal-palace-player-ratings/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Midfielders </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h2>Midfielders</h2> <div id="attachment_133069" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-133069" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/19/arsenal-4-1-crystal-palace-player-ratings/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1474605553.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1474605553.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1474605553-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Granit Xhaka scored his second goal in as many games. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)</p> </div> <p><strong>Thomas Partey (DM) – 7.5/10 –</strong> This was your archetypal untroubled and efficient Partey display. God, he’s good.</p> <p><strong>Granit Xhaka (CM) – 7/10 –</strong> After failing to score since mid-October, Xhaka now has goals in back-to-back games. This was the sort of chance the Swiss international had been missing in recent weeks, but he’s playing with some swagger again.</p> <p><strong>Martin Odegaard (CM) – 7/10 –</strong> The skipper didn’t contribute with goals or assists, but he buzzed around the Emirates turf all afternoon in a bid to confuse Palace’s defensive structure.</p> <p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/19/arsenal-4-1-crystal-palace-player-ratings/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Forwards &amp; Subs </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h2>Forwards</h2> <div id="attachment_133067" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-133067" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/03/19/arsenal-4-1-crystal-palace-player-ratings/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1248602874.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1248602874.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1248602874-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Gabriel Martinelli opened the scoring for the hosts. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> <p><strong>Bukayo Saka (RW) – 8.5/10 –</strong> Fatigued? Haha. Saka was the star of the show on Sunday as he netted twice for the Gunners in an emphatic victory.</p> <p><strong>Leandro Trossard (ST) – 6/10 –</strong> Wasn’t as influential as he was at Craven Cottage, but he combined with Xhaka to set up Arsenal’s third.</p> <p><strong>Gabriel Martinelli (LW) – 7/10 –</strong> Provided plenty of thrust before his wonderfully-taken opener. Quietened down in the second half.</p> <h2>Substitutes</h2> <p><strong>Kieran Tierney – 7/10</strong></p> <p><strong>Gabriel Jesus – 6/10</strong></p> <p><strong>Jorginho – 5/10</strong></p> <p><strong>Emile Smith Rowe – 5/10</strong></p> <p><strong>Jakub Kiwior – N/A</strong></p><!—pageview_candidate—>">