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By HARRY BAMFORTH and SAMI MOKBEL AT SELHURST PARK and ISAAN KHAN AT SELHURST PARK and DOMINIC HOGAN Published: 03: 30 AEDT, 22 December 2024 | Updated: 05: 59 AEDT, 22 December 2024 54 View comments Follow Mail Sport's live blog for the latest team news, live score and updates from the Premier League tie between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park.   By Harry Bamforth I fear this could get messy for Crystal Palace. They are chucking bodies forward and Arsenal can easily kill them off on the counter. There could still be more goals in this for the Gunners. By Harry Bamforth Arsenal have been really good at scoring at the right times this evening. Whenever Crystal Palace seem to be on top and are making a game out of it, the Gunners go ahead. They have been so clinical tonight. By Isaan Khan At Selhurst Park By Harry Bamforth Game over! Arsenal are surely out of reach now and Gabrielo Martinelli now gets in on the act. It all starts with Gabriel Jesus coming close yet again to scoring a hat-trick, but he is denied by Dean Henderson. The ball comes out to Declan Rice, he arrows an effort low toward goal but Matinelli sticks a foot out and turns it home from two yards out. A huge goal for the Brazilian. By Isaan Khan At Selhurst Park By Harry Bamforth I can imagine there are a lot of smiling faces in that Arsenal away end as I type this. Riccardo Calafiori has returned from injury at last as he comes on to replace Myles Lewis-Skelly. Meanwhile, Declan Rice has replaced Kai Havertz. By Harry Bamforth David Raya to the rescue once again for Arsenal. the Gunners are really playing with fire and have their keeper to thank for Palace not pulling a goal back. Jean-Philippe Mateta tears through the visitors' midfield and eventually has a crack from distance. Ray gets to it but can only beat the shot into the path of Ismaila Sarr who is steaming in. The winger gets a head to it but Raya reacts brilliantly to deny him. By Harry Bamforth Ooooh. .. Myles Lewis-Skelly goes down holding his throat as he battles Jean-Philippe Mateta as they wait for a corner. I mean, it's all a bit of nothing really. Mateta is maybe just a bit too aggressive with his forearm. But my word, the height difference is crazy. A bit of a mismatch. By Harry Bamforth Gabriel Jesus is having so much fun out there. The striker is now bringing out the flicks and tricks. That's certainly the mark of a man who has his confidence back. It's crazy what a few goals can do, eh? By Harry Bamforth Oh, it should be 3-2! Crystal Palace nearly have the perfect start to the second half but David Raya foils them. A cross is flicked on into the path of Ismail Sarr and he looks set to net his second of the game. But he can only send his diving header straight at Raya - he should do better. By Harry Bamforth Jeez, that break zoomed by. The two teams are back out on the pitch, but the atmosphere that greets them this time is not quite as bubbly. Anyway, the ball is back in play again. By Harry Bamforth Paul Merson, former Arsenal midfielder, on Sky Sports: By Harry Bamforth There was no better time for Gabriel Jesus to hit form, really. I mean, as a journalist I love it because the pun possibilities are endless. Jesus is just on fire. After struggle; ingf or goals so much, to score five in one week is pretty ridiculous. All against Crystal Palace too. .. Oliver Glasner must hate him. I'm pretty sure with how Jesus is playing now, he won't go another 23 Premier League matches without a goal. But the real question is, can he secure his second hat-trick in a row in the second half? I mean, I don't see why not. By Harry Bamforth You know the song, right? Well, I know the Arsenal fans reading this will know what I am talking about, they love singing about set-pieces. There is a reason why. .. Gabriel Jesus' second goal in that half was Arsenal's 50th Premier League goal from a corner since Nicolas Jover joined the club as set-piece coach in 2021. That's the most of any club in the competition in that time. I mean, they really are the corner kings. By Harry Bamforth Just look at that smile! Gabriel Jesus has not had the easiest of years but just as it comes to a close he is finally having some fun. His second goal of the half was a real beauty, he just arrowed it into the top corner. The finish of a man in form once again. By Harry Bamforth And there it is! The referee signals half-time and now we can all get a break from what has been a chaotic match in south London. There were three goals in the opening 15 minutes, with Gabriel Jesus inflicting more pain on the Eagles. Kai Havertz then made things more comfortable for the visitors, and it's hard to see them throwing this away now. But who knows in the Premier League, eh? By Harry Bamforth The chances are still flowing in this game. Jefferson Lemra tries to pull a goal back just before the break with a lovely header, but David Raya denies him. The whistle will come anytime now. By Harry Bamforth Oh, it's nearly four! Just as I have a go at the Gunners for time-wasting, they nearly shut me up. Martinelli picks up the ball on the left and shapes to shoot, but he can only find the gloves of Dean Henderson. He collides with Tyrick Mitchell afterward and wants a penalty, but he is never getting that. By Harry Bamforth Is it just me, or are Arsenal time-wasting? The Gunners seem desperate to run the clock down to half-time despite being two goals to the good. First, David Raya deploys the tactics, and then Myles Lewis-Skelly. It's a bit early for that, surely? By Harry Bamforth There will be five minutes of stoppage time. Knowing these two teams, I wouldn't be surprised if there were two goals in that time, let alone one. By Harry Bamforth That third Arsenal goal has taken all the sting out of this game. Crystal Palace were building a head of steam but the stuffing has been knocked out of them. I told you the fourth goal would be pivotal. By Harry Bamforth I can't wait for half-time. .. That may seem weird, but I am struggling to get my breath back. The action is just relentless. These two teams have now provided nine goals between them in the past four days. I'm sure they're not done yet, either. By Harry Bamforth The all-important goal for the Gunners! You'll never guess what, but Gabriel Jesus is once again involved. He comes within inches of scoring his hat-trick via a brilliant header, but the post denies him. However, the ball only goes as Kai Havertz and he is never missing from there. Arsenal are in real control now. By Harry Bamforth Maxence Lacroix, take a bow! The Crystal Palace defender has just provided one of the tackles of the season so far to deny Gabriel Jesus a second hat-trick in a week. Jesus races through but Lacroix steams back and makes a miraculous slide tackle to put it behind for a corner. William Saliba then sends a header against the bar. It's all going on! By Harry Bamforth Now that is what you call a stupid booking. .. Jurrien Timber walks about five yards forward when preparing to take a throw-in and Simon Hooper is having none of it. By Harry Bamforth The next goal in this match is pivotal. If Arsenal get it, it's a long way back for Crystal Palace, but if the hosts get it then game on. It's the Eagles who are looking more likely at the moment and Jean Philippe Mateta has just headed over the bar from a corner. The Gunners need to try and get through the next 10 minutes unscathed. By Harry Bamforth We have our first booking of the match. Gabriel has looked a little shaky at times and he gets done by Ismaila Sarr down the right. He then pulls him down and Simon Hooper has no choice but to pull the yellow card out. The Brazilian has to be careful now. .. By Harry Bamforth Is this football or the darts? The Arsenal fans obviously think they are at Ally Pally as they do the classic chant. I'm not complaining though, I love it. By Sami Mokbel At Selhurst Park By Harry Bamforth This game is end to end, it's like both sides have forgotten how to defend. One of those defenders is William Saliba who has had an absolute stinker so far. His latest error nearly allowed Jean-Philippe Mateta to equalise - he needs to sort himself out. By Harry Bamforth Oh dear. .. this does not look good for Bukayo Saka. The winger looks in a real spot of bother and it doesn't look like he can continue. In fact, he can't. He hobbles off the pitch and is replaced by Leandro Trossard with not even 25 minutes gone. A huge blow for Arsenal! By Sami Mokbel At Selhurst Park By Harry Bamforth How are Crystal Palace not level? This game is simply relentless, you can't keep your eyes off it, and Jean-Philippe Mateta has somehow not equalised. The ball breaks for him after some poor defending form Arsenal, he just has David Raya to beat, but he blasts it straight at him. I can't believe he has missed. By Harry Bamforth Jamie Carragher, former Liverpool defender, on Sky Sports: By Harry Bamforth My word, what has happened to Gabriel Jesus? That's his fifth goal in 55 minutes against Crystal Palace. Everything he touches turns into goals. For a man who couldn't hit a barn door before today, that is mightily impressive. By Harry Bamforth Gabriel Jesus just can't stop scoring! Crystal Palace were not level for long and Arsenal's set-piece quality shines through again. A corner ends up at the feet of Jesus who slams the ball into the top corner in style. This really is remarkable. By Harry Bamforth Palace are level! The hosts have responded really well to going behind and Ismaila Sarr bends a beautiful level into the corner. The winger has William Saliba backpedaling and then just picks his spot and finds it brilliantly. All square in south London. By Harry Bamforth Oh my word, what ar you doing David Raya? ?? The Spaniard is a very lucky boy as he gives the ball away trying to play out the back. But Will Hughes doesn't make him pay as he fires wide while sliding in on Thomas Partey. By Harry Bamforth Selhurst Park has fallen pretty damn silent since the ball hit the back of the net. Just as I type that though, Maxence Lacroix gets on the end of a free-kick but can only guide his header over the bar. By Harry Bamforth Ignore my last post! It's crazy what a bit of confidence can do, what a week Gabriel Jesus has had. Crystal Palace must be sick of the sight of him as he scores his first Premier League goal since January. Bukayo Saka whips a ball into the box, it goes through everybody before falling to Jesus who drives it in at the near post. What a start for Arsenal. By Harry Bamforth While I am loving the vibes in the crowd tonight, what's happening on the pitch has not been quite so interesting thus far. I mean, it's been a whole lot of nothing. Both sides are just trying to settle into their rhythm. Hopefully, they hit it sooner rather than later. By Harry Bamforth Both sets of fans are really up for this one. The home crowd have been belting out 'Allez, Allez, Allez' while Arsenal fans in the corner have been serenading Gabriel. A great atmosphere. By Harry Bamforth I am loving the vibe in south London tonight, they have just played techno music at full blast in the seconds leading to kick-off. Martin Odegaard then gets the game underway and there is a roar from both sets of fans. Who will come out on top? By Harry Bamforth Ooooh, I have a good feeling about this one. As the teams come out of the tunnel, there are flames bursting and the fans are having a good old chant. The atmosphere inside Selhurst Park is one fitting of a Saturday night match, the fans are having a very good time. It's pyro galore, and it's singing galore, so let's hope it's goals galore too. By Harry Bamforth Oliver Glasner, Crystal Palace manager, speaking to Sky Sports: By Harry Bamforth There are many good omens for Arsenal heading into tonight's fixture. I mean, they love facing Crystal Palace. .. The Gunners have won all of their last four Premier League meetings with Crystal Palace. They have also lost just two of their last 19 away league games against the Eagles, winning ten of those. Will they continue their fine record against them tonight? By Harry Bamforth Chris Sutton, It's All Kicking Off! co-host, on BBC Sport: By Harry Bamforth How excited are we for this one then? We are now less than 20 minutes from kick-off and the teams are just finishing off their warm-ups. I'm sure Mikel Arteta is preparing his big final speech as we speak because he will really need to motivate his players. The Gunners simply can't afford to drop points this evening. By Dominic Hogan Bukayo Saka having 250 appearances is actually unbelievable. The guy's 23 years old - I can't think of anything I'd done 250 times by the time I was his age, let alone starring for one of the biggest sides in the world (sorry Spurs fans). It's a special night for the Gunners' talisman, who has been in typically glittering form this term with nine goals and 13 assists in all competitions. By Dominic Hogan What a lovely day it looks down in south London. .. It's actually a weirdly warm 11 degrees at Selhurst Park right now, with winds of 15mph and - not to jinx it - no rain in sight. By Dominic Hogan Five years both feels like too long, but also too short for Mikel Arteta to have been the manager of Arsenal? It's been a huge turnaround for the Gunners, with Arteta turning them from Europa League qualifiers into genuine title contenders - and how their bid this season could do with a win tonight. But five years it is, and here Mail Sport's Arsenal specialist Isaan Khan has looked back at the former club captain's tenure. By Dominic Hogan It was a big night in midweek for Gabriel Jesus, who is rewarded with just a third Premier League start of the season. A hat-trick in the Carabao Cup steered the Gunners into the last-four, but the Brazilian is still without a goal since January in the top-flight. Three on Wednesday feels like a good way to get himself in form, but can he end that dry spell in the league tonight? By Dominic Hogan And here's the visitors - including a 250th game for Bukayo Saka! Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Odegaard, Havertz, Saka, Martinelli, Jesus. Subs: Neto, Tierney, Kiwior, Calafiori, Jorginho, Rice, Merino, Nwaneri, Trossard. By Dominic Hogan Here's how the hosts are lining up tonight under the lights at Selhurst Park. .. Henderson, Clyne, Richards, Lacroix, Guehi, Mitchell, Lerma, Hughes, Kamada, Sarr, Mateta Subs: Turner, Ward, Nketiah, Schlupp, Chalobah, Doucoure, Devenny, Kporha, Agbinone By Dominic Hogan Welcome, welcome one and all Mail Sport's LIVE coverage of tonight's main event - Crystal Palace vs Arsenal No, you're not going mad. Yes, it is the Eagles vs the Gunners for the second time in four days, and yes, it is going to be a cracker. Stick with us as we build up to this London derby which is just an hour away - next up some team news, so don't go anywhere! Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group