April 10 2017

Andros Townsend

Crystal Palace pulled further away from the relegation zone with a 3-0 win at home to Arsenal.

Sam Allardyce's men kept up their recent revival with a surprise victory – their fifth in the last six games – to rise six points above third-bottom Swansea.

Arsenal, who had not lost at Selhurst Park since 1979, had the first chance with Wayne Hennessey pushing out Mohamed Elneny's shot from outside the area.

However, in-form Andros Townsend gave Palace the lead on 17 minutes when he turned in Wilfried Zaha's cross after a well-worked passing move.

Alexis Sanchez drew Hennessey into another stop, while Gunners keeper Emiliano Martinez denied Christian Benteke before half-time.

Benteke got the ball in the Gunners' net after Martinez spilled Townsend's shot but was flagged offside.

Then Palace extended their advantage in the 63rd minute after Zaha fed Yohan Cabaye and the French midfielder managed to loop a shot over Martinez and into the net.

The three points were made safe five minutes later when keeper Martinez brought down Townsend in the area and Luka Milivojevic dispatched the resulting penalty for his first Eagles goal.

The hosts sat deep and soaked up Arsenal's tame pressure to hold out for a huge three points in their battle to avoid the drop as they gleaned a fourth clean sheet in their last six league games.

Palace: Hennessey, Ward, Sakho, Kelly, Schlupp, Cabaye (McArthur 74), Milivojevic (Flamini 82), Zaha (Delaney 88), Puncheon, Townsend, C. Benteke.

Not used: Speroni, Fryers, Flamini, Kaikai, Sako.

Arsenal: Martinez, Bellerin, Mustafi, Gabriel, Monreal, Xhaka, Elneny (Ramsey 59), Walcott (Oxlade-Chamberlain 68), Ozil, Sanchez, Welbeck (Giroud 59).

Not used: Macey, Gibbs, Mertesacker, Coquelin.

2016/17 match reports

2016/17 squad stats

Premier League table

How did you get on in the Prediction League?

Did you take any photos of the game? Upload them here