Goals from Mikel Arteta and Olivier Giroud secured a 2-0 in for Arsenal against managerless Crystal Palace to keep them two points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Arteta opened the scoring from the penalty spot shortly after the restart after Adlene Guediora’s foul on Serge Gnabry, before the Spaniard was dismissed for a professional foul on former Gunner Marouane Chamakh.
Palace, who sat second from bottom before kick-off were far from out of the game, though Giroud’s header three minutes from time wrapped up the points for Arsene Wenger’s men who stretch their unbeaten away league record to ten games.
The club will now turn their attention to tomorrow evening’s League Cup third round clash with Chelsea, who kept up their pressure on Arsenal in the league with a last gasp victory over Manchester City yesterday afternoon.
They then host third place Liverpool, who thrashed West Bromwich Albion 4-1 on Saturday afternoon to stay third.
Meanwhile, Arsenal will consider a £7m bid for West Brom midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu, according to the Mirror.
Reports suggest that Arsene Wenger is keen on bringing in another holding midfielder to provide competition for Mathieu Flamini, who has impressed in that position since returning to the North London club in the summer.
